On Aug. 6, 2026, DHS submitted a proposed rule, “Eliminating the Discretionary 60-day Grace Period,” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that seeks to eliminate the 60-day grace period available to H-1B workers and certain other employment-based visa holders following a job loss. The full regulatory text has not yet been released publicly.
Major Visa Shift: U.S. Realigns Visa Services in Africa to Regional Hubs
The Department of State has announced a significant restructuring of visa operations across Africa, effective Aug. 1, 2026. Under this initiative, routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa processing at certain U.S. embassies and consulates will be consolidated into designated regional visa processing hubs or centers. According to the Department of State, this realignment is intended to…
Federal Court Vacates USCIS Adjudication Pause Affecting Nationals of 39 Countries
By John E. Exner, IV, Amy L. Peck & Otieno B. Ombok on
Posted in Asylum / Refugee, Compliance and Enforcement, E-1 / E-2, EADs, EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, H-4, I-9 and E-Verify, Immigration Litigation, L-1A / L-1B, L-2, Other Non-immigrant Visas, Permanent Residence, Temporary (Non-immigrant) Work Visas, Travel Ban, Trump Administration, US Immigration, USCIS
- A federal district court has vacated USCIS policies that paused adjudication of immigration benefit requests filed by nationals of 39 countries.
- The court ruling could allow affected adjustment of status, employment authorization, naturalization, and certain asylum-related applications to proceed.
- The government is expected to consider appellate options, and employers should continue to monitor developments.
A Quicker Option: U.S. Preclearance Now Available at Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport
Effective March 10, 2026, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) joined nine other Canadian airports in offering U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance. The preclearance allows travelers to complete their U.S. immigration, customs, and agriculture inspection before departure. This is great news for travelers wishing to return to the U.S. in a quicker and…
USCIS Widens Freeze on Immigration Benefits for Nationals of 19 Countries: Employers Should Expect Delays Across Multiple Categories
By Amy L. Peck & Otieno B. Ombok on
- USCIS has confirmed its Dec. 2 policy memo, which listed only a narrow set of applications, was not exhaustive and that it has
U.S. Visa Dropbox Eligibility Reverts to Pre-COVID Standard, More Applicants Will Need In-Person Interviews
The U.S. Department of State has unexpectedly updated Consular websites with revised eligibility requirements for Visa Interview Waiver (“dropbox”) appointments.
Effective immediately, dropbox eligibility is limited to applicants renewing a visa in the same nonimmigrant classification that expired within the past 12 months. While no official government announcement has been made, Visa Application Centers (VACs)…
DHS Announces Permanent Rule for 540-Day Automatic Extension of Work Authorization Renewals
- They timely filed an EAD renewal application
How Employers Can Prepare for End of Bundled Processing of Work Authorizations for H and L Dependents
By Otieno B. Ombok on
In January 2025, the settlement agreement that returned USCIS to its practice of “bundling” adjudication of extensions of stay and applications for employment authorization documents (EADs) for dependent spouses of H-1B and L-1 visa holders will expire. Without that bundling policy, some dependents and their employers could experience lengthy processing times and possible gaps in…
DHS: Automatic Extension of Work Authorization for Certain Renewal Applicants
By Amy L. Peck on
Posted in Asylum / Refugee, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), E-1 / E-2, EADs, Fees and Penalties, H-4, I-9 and E-Verify, L-2, TPS, USCIS
Good news for those applying for or with pending Employment Authorization Document (EAD) renewals. DHS is temporarily reinstituting its 540-day automatic extension of work authorization for eligible individuals.
Although DHS has streamlined its EAD process and extended EAD validity periods for certain applicants from two years to five years, the government still struggles to timely…
New, Higher USCIS Filing Fees Take Effect April 1, 2024
By Amy L. Peck, Michael H. Neifach & Otieno B. Ombok on
Posted in Asylum / Refugee, EADs, Fees and Penalties, Green Cards, H-1B, H-2B, H-4, Immigrant Petitions, L-1A / L-1B, L-2, O-1, Permanent Residence, USCIS
Many USCIS filing fees are being adjusted upward beginning on April 1, 2024. That date, of course, is particularly significant. It is the earliest date that Cap H-1Bs can be filed.
The H-1B filing fee, for example, will rise from $460 to $780. The ACWIA Fee (to fund the training of U.S. workers) and the…