Insight, News, and Strategy on Immigration Matters Around the World
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) that removes the long‑standing requirement that R‑1 nonimmigrant religious workers who have exhausted the maximum five‑year period in R‑1 status must spend one full year abroad before becoming eligible to return in R‑1 classification.
Under the IFR, an R‑1 nonimmigrant who has…
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced that it has strengthened requirements for issuance and renewal of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) for non-domiciled applicants individuals.
The FMCSA’s interim final rule limits issuance of non-domiciled CDLs to individuals with specific lawful employment-based nonimmigrant status categories (H-2A, H-2B, or E-2).
The rule also requires…
On Sept. 19, 2025, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” (the “Proclamation”). The Proclamation requires employers to pay a $100,000 fee with any new H-1B petition for foreign workers outside the United States, effective Sept. 21, 2025. The stated purpose is to address perceived misuse of the…
The current government funding expired at the end of the fiscal year without a continuing resolution, resulting in a government shutdown. A federal government shutdown can create ripple effects across immigration processes, but the impact varies depending on the agency.
Since USCIS is fee-funded, most operations — like processing petitions and applications — continue as…
President Donald Trump signed a Proclamation on Sept. 19, 2025, requiring a $100,000 fee for H-1B nonimmigrants seeking to enter the United States (“Proclamation”). Initial reports suggested the restriction applied broadly, including to current visa holders. Over the weekend, the White House, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)…
On Sept. 19, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation titled Proclamation on Restriction of Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers (the “Proclamation”) imposing significant restrictions on H-1B nonimmigrants seeking to enter or reenter the United States.
Though the Proclamation does not appear to make a distinction between new applicants and current visa holders, as of…
As predicted following its passage and signing into law in early July, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) has resulted in a surge in job applications at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Following that funding approval, hiring and training of sufficient personnel is the Trump Administration’s next step…
The House of Representatives passed budget reconciliation bill H.R. 1, entitled “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” that includes significant changes to the immigration fee structure. As the Senate prepares its version of the reconciliation bill, many of the immigration-related provisions are unchanged from the one passed by the House.
H.R. 1 aims to initiate…
USCIS has released an update to its Policy Manual, bringing significant changes to regulations on the TN nonimmigrant visa classification and perhaps some employers’ practices. For instance, because of changes to the Scientific Technician/Technologist category, employers in the healthcare industry may need to consider other visas for certain roles.
Eligibility
To be eligible for…
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation suspending entry to the U.S. for nationals of 19 countries on June 4, 2025. The proclamation stated that the designated countries are so deficient in their information screening and vetting that a suspension on the entry of nationals from those countries is necessary. “Presidential Proclamation Restricting the Entry…
