The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for August shows little forward movement across several employment-based categories. The bulletin includes the following information: VISA AVAILABILITY IN THE EMPLOYMENT-BASED FIRST PREFERENCE (EB-1) FINAL ACTION DATE FOR INDIA...
Topic: Employment-Based Visas
Group Files Complaint Against ‘Gold Card’ Program
On February 3, 2026, a group including the American Association of University Professors and others filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's "Gold Card" visa program. The complaint asks a U.S. district court for declaratory and injunctive relief against...
DHS to Raise Premium Processing Fees
On January 9, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security announced that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is raising premium processing fees effective March 1, 2026. Those submitting a request for premium processing postmarked on or after that date must...
DOS Clarifies Guidance on Easing the Nonimmigrant Visa Process for College Graduates
On June 18, 2024, the Biden administration announced actions to more efficiently process employment-based nonimmigrant visas for those who have graduated from college in the United States and have a job offer. As part of this initiative, on July 15, 2024, the...
November Visa Bulletin Includes Information on Extension of Religious Workers Category, Visa Availability in Employment Second Category
The Department of State's Visa Bulletin for November 2022 includes the following information: EMPLOYMENT FOURTH PREFERENCE (SR) RELIGIOUS WORKERS CATEGORY EXTENDED H.R. 6833, enacted on September 30, 2022, extended the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious...
Labor Dept. Implements Court Order Vacating Prevailing Wage Final Rule
The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) published a final rule, effective December 13, 2021, implementing a federal district court order vacating a controversial January 14, 2021, final rule that was initially promulgated in October...
Visa Bulletin for October Includes Outlook for Next Several Months
The Department of State's Visa Bulletin for October 2021 includes information on potential movement in visa availability for the next several months: Employment First: Worldwide: Current China: Current India: Current Employment Second: Worldwide: Current China: Up to...
District Court Vacates H-1B Lottery Wage-Based Final Rule
A U.S. district court judge vacated a final rule, "Strengthening Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Aliens in the United States," because Chad Wolf was not lawfully appointed as Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland...
Employers May File H-2B Petitions for Returning Workers for FY 2021, USCIS Says
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on July 23, 2021, that employers may file H-2B petitions for returning workers under the fiscal year (FY) 2021 H-2B supplemental visa temporary final rule. "Employers may take this action if they are likely...
Visa Bulletin Reflects Substantial Forward Movement; USCIS Instructs Employment-Based Beneficiaries to Use ‘Dates for Filing’ in October
The Department of State's Visa Bulletin for the month of October 2019 reflects substantial forward movement as anticipated with the beginning of the federal fiscal year on October 1, 2019. Specifically, only the EB-1 preference category as well as India and China-born...
