The United States remains the destination of choice for millions of foreign nationals pursuing careers, building businesses, and seeking permanent homes. But for a growing number of people, the path to stability in the US has become longer, less predictable, and more precarious than ever. Two groups in particular face acute and immediate challenges: Indian […]
With immigration compliance audits and site visits increasing in most employment-based immigration categories, the STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program is not immune to heightened scrutiny. While this program has proven invaluable to both U.S. employers and foreign students for decades, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which administers OPT, has recently raised concerns regarding the integrity of a variety of STEM OPT employment arrangements, particularly focusing on STEM OPT […]
Under DOL regulations, the PERM process is a highly technical regulatory exercise that uses outdated methodologies to determine if any minimally qualified U.S. workers exist for a specific job. In short, rather than being a real-world recruitment effort, it is a DOL structured labor market test for a position already held by a foreign worker. However, the […]
Report that USCIS is Pausing Adjudication of Pending Benefit Applications Due to Implementation of New Vetting Process | April 30, 2026 Over the past few days, we have been received reports that USCIS field and asylum office personnel are informing applicants that adjudications are now subject to a hold on a nationwide basis. While initial information suggests that only adjustment of status and asylum cases are affected, the […]
At our firm, we will continue to pursue immigration benefits for our clients. A recent success before the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) underscores exactly what that commitment looks like in practice. This case involved an EB-1B Outstanding Researcher green card position. Our client faced an unexpected and legally flawed obstacle: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services […]
The release of the May 2026 Visa Bulletin brings a significant shift in immigrant visa availability for employment-based applicants. While previous months allowed many to file based on the more generous “Dates for Filing” chart, USCIS announced that in May 2026, all employment-based categories must use the stricter Final Action Dates chart. The Move to Final Action […]
As of April 10, 2026, the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) will be fully operational across all twenty-nine participating Schengen countries. This digital border infrastructure replaces manual passport stamping with a sophisticated biometric database, fundamentally changing the arrival process for non-EU travelers. For our clients, particularly those whose jobs require frequent European business travel, understanding how this system […]
For nearly 30 years, employers relied on a degree of leniency from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when it came to clerical errors on Form I-9. Under the long standing policy, many mistakes, like a missing date of birth or a missing date of hire, were classified as “technical or procedural,” allowing businesses a 10-day […]
The Issue On March 10, 2025, President Trump’s nominated Joseph Edlow to serve as Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). His nomination is subject to Senate confirmation which should begin within the next few months. On July 15, 2025, Mr. Edlow’s nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 52-47. […]