Visa Lawyer Blog

Articles Posted in Family Visas

by

santa-claus-1614994_1280As the year draws to a close, we would like to extend our sincere thanks for the trust you have placed in our firm.

We wish you and your loved ones a joyful Christmas and a New Year filled with good health, peace, and success. It has been our privilege to work with you, and we look forward to continuing to serve you in the year ahead.

In observance of the Christmas holiday, our office will be closed on Wednesday December 24th through Friday December 26th. We will resume normal business hours on Monday December 29th.

Continue reading

by

nils-huenerfuerst-xkq3mbthlh0-unsplash-scaledThe U.S. government has issued a revised travel ban that takes effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on January 1, 2026, significantly expanding restrictions on visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries and individuals travelling with Palestinian Authority–issued travel documents.

Under the new presidential proclamation, immigrant and nonimmigrant visas are fully suspended for nationals of 19 countries, which now include seven newly added nations. An additional 19 countries face partial restrictions — limiting immigrant visas and certain nonimmigrant categories (e.g., B, F, M, J visas). One country, Turkmenistan, now faces only immigrant visa restrictions.

Importantly, the ban does not revoke existing visas or apply to foreign nationals already in the United States on January 1, 2026, with valid visas. Other exceptions include U.S. lawful permanent residents, dual nationals travelling on a non-designated passport, certain diplomats, and athletes travelling for major events.

This expanded travel ban marks one of the most sweeping visa restrictions in recent U.S. policy, with potential impacts on U.S. employers, and visa holders.

What are the countries subject to full restrictions

The proclamation adds seven countries to the existing 12 countries whose nationals are barred from both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa issuance. The initial 12 countries with continued full visa restrictions are:

  • Afghanistan
  • Burma
  • Chad
  • Republic of Congo
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Haiti
  • Iran
  • Libya
  • Somalia
  • Sudan
  • Yemen

The proclamation adds the following seven countries to the full restriction list:

  • Burkina Faso
  • Laos (previously on the June travel ban “partially restricted” list)
  • Mali
  • Niger
  • Sierra Leone (previously on the June travel ban “partially restricted” list)
  • South Sudan
  • Syria

Continue reading

by

january-lettering-9278218_1280We are pleased to report that the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has published the January 2026 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 adjustment of status filings to permanent residence in the month of January, USCIS has not yet indicated which filing chart it will use for the employment-based and family-sponsored categories.

Highlights of the January 2026 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of January?

Employment-Based Categories

Final Action Advancements

EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives

  • EB-1 India will advance by 10 months to February 1, 2023
  • EB-1 China will advance by 10 days to February 1, 2023

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

  • EB-2 India will advance by 2 months to July 15, 2013
  • EB-2 China will advance by 3 months to September 1, 2021
  • All other countries will advance by 2 months to April 1, 2024

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

  • EB-3 India will advance by 1.8 months to November 15, 2013
  • EB-3 China will advance by 1 month to May 1, 2021
  • All other countries will advance by 1 week to April 22, 2023

EB-3 Other Workers

  • EB-3 India will advance by 1.8 months to November 15, 2013
  • EB-3 China will advance by 1 year to December 8, 2018
  • All other countries will advance by 1 month to September 1, 2021

Continue reading

by

mobile-1087845_1280

DHS Ends Family Reunification Parole Programs

On December 12, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it is terminating all categorical Family Reunification Parole (FRP) programs for citizens of Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras, including their immediate family members.

These programs allowed certain relatives of U.S. citizens and permanent residents to enter the United States on parole while awaiting completion of the immigrant visa process.

DHS described the move as an effort to end what they described as the “abuse of humanitarian parole,” arguing that these programs allowed individuals to bypass traditional immigration procedures without sufficient vetting. Under the new policy, parole will be granted on a case-by-case basis.

The termination takes effect December 15, 2025, and parole for individuals already admitted under FRP will generally expire on January 14, 2026, unless they have a pending Form I-485 Application to Adjust Status that is postmarked or electronically filed on or before December 15 and it is still pending on January 14, 2026.

If an individual has a pending Form I-485, their parole will remain valid until either their period of parole expires or USCIS makes a final decision on their pending Form I-485, whichever is sooner. If the Form I-485 is denied, the period of parole will be terminated, and they will be required to depart the United States or seek relief through alternative legal pathways.

Continue reading

by

visa-3653492_1280On December 2, 2025, USCIS issued a policy memorandum placing a hold on numerous immigration benefit requests and ordering the re-examination of previously approved cases.

What the Memo Says: Key Provisions

  • Pending benefit requests frozen for many nationals. USCIS is pausing processing of all pending immigration benefit requests if the applicant’s country of birth or citizenship is one of the 19 countries listed in the June 2025 travel ban.
  • Affected Benefit Requests: The pause will affect pending Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)), Form N-470 (Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes), Form I-751, (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence), and Form I-131 (Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records).
  • Re-review of approved benefits. Immigration benefits (green cards, status adjustments, travel documents, etc.) already approved may now be subject to re-review if the beneficiary entered the U.S. on or after January 20, 2021.
  • Asylum applications on pause — for everyone. All pending Forms I-589 (Asylum / Withholding of Removal applications) have been paused, regardless of nationality. The hold will remain in effect until lifted by the USCIS Director
  • Extensive list of potentially affected benefits. The freeze could impact I-485 adjustment-of-status applications, green-card renewals, travel documents, removal of conditional residence, preservation of residence for naturalization, and more. Employer-sponsored petitions may also face delays or uncertainty.

In short: thousands of pending and even approved immigration benefit cases could now be delayed or re-evaluated. The USCIS policy memorandum states that in light of recent threats to the American people:

Continue reading

by

washington-dc-4457050_1280

In the wake of a deadly shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been instructed to pause all asylum decisions until further notice.

Asylum officers at USCIS, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security, have been told to refrain from approving, denying or closing affirmative asylum applications received by the agency.

The directive comes after authorities reported that the perpetrator of the shooting was an Afghan national who had previously been granted asylum.

Officials have framed the pause as a measure to “reassess immigration and vetting procedures” in light of public safety concerns. This decision will create delays for thousands of asylum seekers who are already navigating a complex and uncertain system.

In-person appointments for applicants seeking updates on their cases are also canceled until further notice.

According to internal guidance, officers may continue conducting asylum interviews and reviewing cases up to the point of issuing a decision. “Once you’ve reached decision entry, stop and hold,” the directive stated.

On November 28th USCIS Director Joseph Edlow confirmed the news on X.

Continue reading

by

thanksgiving-7606342_1280

As we reflect on the past year, we are sincerely grateful for the trust and confidence you place in our office. It is our privilege to serve you, and we appreciate the opportunity to support you and your families.

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, our office will be closed on Thursday November 27th and Friday November 28th. We will resume normal business hours on the following business day.

We wish you and your loved ones a warm, safe, and joyful Thanksgiving.

Continue reading

by

ball-4623653_1280We are pleased to report that the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has published the December 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 adjustment of status filings to permanent residence in the month of December, USCIS will be using the Dates for Filing Chart for the employment-based and family-sponsored categories.

Highlights of the December 2025 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of December?

Employment-Based Categories

Final Action Advancements

EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives

  • India will advance by one month to March 15, 2022
  • China will advance by one month to January 22, 2023
  • All other countries remain current

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

  • India will advance by six weeks to May 15, 2013
  • China will advance by two months to June 1, 2021
  • All other countries will advance by 2 months to February 1, 2024

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

  • India will advance by one month to September 22, 2013
  • China will advance by one month to April 1, 2021
  • All other countries will advance by two weeks to April 15, 2023

Continue reading

by

hiring-1977803_1280On October 29, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an interim final rule that will end the automatic extension of employment authorization documents (EADs) for most renewal applicants effective October 30, 2025.

In this post, we’ll unpack what’s changing, who it affects, the rationale behind the change, and what individuals and employers should do to prepare.

What was the previous policy?

Historically, noncitizens who held valid EADs (Form I-766) and timely filed a renewal application (Form I-765) before their current EAD expired often automatically received continued employment authorization while the renewal was pending. This “automatic extension” policy served as a buffer to prevent employment gaps.

These policies helped many workers avoid a lapse in authorization while waiting for processing of their renewal application.

What is changing now?

Starting October 30, 2025, the automatic extension of work authorization for most renewal applicants will end.

What to know

  • If you file your I-765 renewal on or after October 30, 2025, you will not receive an automatic extension of your EAD for most categories.
  • The rule affects many categories of renewal applicants, including (but not necessarily limited to) those applying under asylum, adjustment of status, H-4 dependent spouses (EAD category C26), etc.
  • Automatic extensions that were already granted (for renewal applications filed before the cut-off) remain valid.
  • Some limited exceptions remain, notably for certain categories such as those tied to TPS (Temporary Protected Status) where automatic extension may still be provided by law or Federal Register notice.

In short, you will not be authorized to keep working simply because you filed a renewal — you must wait for the new EAD to be approved by USCIS.

Continue reading

by

circle-312343_1280The latest announcement from U.S. Department of State has sent ripples through immigration communities: the opening of registration for the Diversity Visa Lottery (DV‑2027) has been delayed, and changes to the entry process are on the horizon.

What’s happening?

  • Traditionally, the DV-Lottery registration period opens in early October. This year, the Department confirmed a delay and said it will announce new dates later.
Continue reading