Flickr Creative Commons Attribution Jeroen Akkermans In the last months, the U.S. Department of State released two significant policy updates that impact both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants. These updates focus on a core change: applicants will now be required to have their visa interviews in their place of residence…
Articles Posted in Visa Interviews
USCIS Updates Policy: Officers to Consider Evidence of Anti-Americanism and Anti-Semitism in Immigrant Benefit Requests
On Tuesday, August 19th, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued updated policy guidance clarifying that immigration officers will assess a range of factors when determining whether to grant a favorable exercise of discretion in the green card process—signaling a tougher stance that may create additional hurdles for applicants seeking…
September Visa Bulletin: No Movement in the Employment-Based Categories, Minimal Movement for Some Family Sponsored Categories
We are pleased to report that today the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs published the September 2025 Visa Bulletin. In this blog post, we breakdown the movement of the employment-based and family-sponsored categories in the coming month. USCIS Adjustment of Status For employment-based preference categories, the U.S. Citizenship and…
Trump Administration Limits Interview Waiver Policy: What Visa Applicants Need to Know (Effective September 2, 2025)
Starting September 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of State will implement major changes that limit eligibility for nonimmigrant visa interview waivers. Under the State Department’s new revised policy, most applicants—including children under 14 and adults over 79—will be required to attend an in-person interview with a U.S. consular officer, with…
August Visa Bulletin: EB-2 Final Action Retrogressions, EB-5 China and India Advancement, Little to No Movement in Other Categories
We are pleased to report that today the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs published the August 2025 Visa Bulletin. In this blog post, we breakdown the movement of the employment-based and family-sponsored categories in the coming month. USCIS Adjustment of Status For employment-based preference categories, the U.S. Citizenship and…
State Department Resumes Student Visa Appointments at U.S. Consulates, with Enhanced Vetting Polices and Demands for Social Media Access
On June 18, 2025, the State Department announced that U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the world will resume scheduling appointments for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas, introducing new guidance that includes stricter vetting procedures and an expanded review of applicants’ social media activity. Moving forward, all F, M, and…
Immigration Roundup: Federal Judge Blocks Harvard Travel Ban, Crisis at Immigration Courts Leads to Lawsuit Stopping Fast Track Deportations
Harvard Travel Ban Blocked by Federal Judge Earlier this month President Trump had signed an Executive Order suspending the entry of all nonimmigrants and exchange visitors attending Harvard University, for a period of 6 months starting June 4th (the effective date of the proclamation). Those affected by the executive order…
July Visa Bulletin: Major Movement for Family Sponsored Categories, and EB-3 Final Action Dates
We are pleased to report that today the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs published the July 2025 Visa Bulletin. In this blog post, we breakdown the movement of the employment-based and family-sponsored categories in the coming month. USCIS Adjustment of Status For employment-based preference categories, the U.S. Citizenship and…
Travel Ban 3.0 Restricting the Entry of 12 Country Nationals Effective Today June 9th
After months of speculation and buildup, President Trump’s long-anticipated travel ban has finally arrived. Issued by executive order on June 4th President Trump’s travel ban entitled “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” closely mirrors…
June Visa Bulletin: Major Movement for EB-2 NIW Employment-Based Category and Modest Movement for Some Family-Sponsored Categories
We are pleased to report that today the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs published the June 2025 Visa Bulletin. In this blog post, we breakdown the movement of the employment-based and family-sponsored categories in the coming month. USCIS Adjustment of Status For employment-based preference categories, the U.S. Citizenship and…