- New student visa interviews are temporarily paused as of 05.27.25 to implement enhanced social media and security screening.
- Applicants with existing appointments are likely not affected, but new applicants will face delays.
- Consular officers are instructed to scrutinize applicants’ online presence, including private or limited social media accounts or the lack of any online
US Immigration
Federal Court Enjoins DHS’s Revocation of Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students
On May 22, 2025, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem ordered the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) to terminate Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (“SEVP”) certification for alleged “pro-terrorist conduct.” SEVP certification enables universities to enroll international students.
The revocation of Harvard’s SEVP authorization has sent shockwaves through the academic community, as it…
H-1B Lottery Registrations Decline to Four-Year Low
By Elizabeth A. Evans on
- Employers submitted approximately 344,000 registrations this year, down 26 percent from last year and the lowest number of registrations in four years.
- The number of workers with multiple registrations also
Supreme Court Allows Trump Administration to End Temporary Protected Status for Venezuela
On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the Justice Department’s request to lift U.S. District Court Judge Edward Chen’s March 31 order halting the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) rescission of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Venezuelans.
Under the rescission, announced in a Federal Register Notice on Feb. 5, 2025…
U.S. Still Leads in Attracting International Talent — But For How Long?
- The United States continues to attract the largest share of international graduate students, particularly in STEM fields, but its dominance may be slipping.
- Other countries are expanding their post-study work options and streamlining their immigration pathways to compete for the world’s best and brightest.
- U.S. employers seeking to secure international talent should act early
Employers Must Adapt to Worksite Raid Surge: Sanctuary Cities Face Intensified Enforcement Efforts
Takeaways:
- Increased Worksite Enforcement: Businesses can expect a surge in ICE raids and I-9 audits at workplaces.
- Impact on Sanctuary Cities: Federal agents will target sanctuary cities for immigration enforcement operations.
- Employer Preparedness: Businesses, especially those operating in sanctuary cities, should have an action plan ready for potential ICE enforcement actions.
Tom Homan, President Donald…
Staying I-9 and E-Verify Compliant: Updates for Employers
By Sarah P. Caze on
USCIS has published a new version of Form I-9 and effected new updates to the form and E-Verify.
Employers can use the new 01/20/2025 edition date (expiring 5/31/2027) Form I-9, but the following previous versions continue to be valid:
- 08/01/23 edition date, valid until 05/31/2027; and
- 08/01/23 edition date, valid until 07/31/2026.
Employers using an…
‘Catch and Revoke’ Program Takes Off: State Department AI-Driven Visa Crackdown
By Minnie Fu & Michael H. Neifach on
Posted in Compliance and Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of State, Executive Orders, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Immigration Litigation, Other Non-immigrant Visas, Students / CPT / OPT / STEM, Temporary (Non-immigrant) Work Visas, Trump Administration, US Immigration
The U.S. State Department’s “Catch and Revoke” program uses artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor foreign nationals, particularly student visa holders. The program aims to identify individuals who express support for Hamas, Hezbollah, or other U.S.-designated terrorist organizations through social media activity or participation in protests and revoke their visas. To date, approximately 300 foreign nationals…
No ‘X’ Marks: USCIS No Longer Issuing Documents with ‘X’ Gender
By Sarah P. Caze on
Effective April 2, 2025, all documents issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will identify individuals as either male or female. Previously, USCIS-issued documents also listed “X” as a gender.
This policy change is a direct response to President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20, 2025, executive order (EO) vowing to “defend women’s rights and protect…
USCIS Announces Initial FY 2026 H-1B Cap Selection: What Employers Need to Do Next
Takeaways
- The initial drawing includes registrants under both the 65,000 regular cap and the 20,000 master’s cap.
- Employers and attorneys have been notified of selection results through their myUSCIS accounts.
- H-1B petitions must be filed between 04.01.25 and 06.30.25 to use the cap selection.
USCIS announced on Mar. 31, 2025, that it has completed the…