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Green Card Immigration Guide
Practical articles about the visa bulletin, filing strategies, and the immigration process.
PERM Watch
Eight Companies Can No Longer File PERM. What Workers Already in the Pipeline Need to Know.
On October 8, the Department of Labor suspended Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, TCS, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini from the PERM labor certification program — halting both new filings and pending applications. H-1B status and approved I-140s are unaffected. The initial suspension runs 180 days with no guaranteed endpoint.
November Bulletin Watch
ROW EB-2 and EB-3 Retrogressed in October. Here Is What the November Predictions Actually Say.
Worldwide EB-2 dropped from Current to a January 2025 Final Action Date at the start of FY 2027. The November bulletin is expected around October 16. Law firm forecasts are cautious, and there are a few things most ROW applicants are getting wrong about how this plays out.
China Green Card Watch
China EB-3 Just Jumped 26 Months. Here Is Why the October Bulletin Looks So Different If You Were Born in China.
The October 2026 Visa Bulletin opened fiscal year 2027 with a dramatic split. Rest of World EB-2 and EB-3 retrogressed. China-born applicants saw EB-3 Final Action Dates jump forward over two years, EB-2 Dates for Filing advance a full year, and EB-1 pick up seven months. Here is what that means and why it happened.
TN Visa Watch
Your TN Visa Application Now Includes a Social Media Check. Here Is What That Actually Means.
The State Department expanded its online presence review to TN, TD, and I visa applicants on October 1. If you're a USMCA professional applying for a TN stamp at a U.S. consulate, your social profiles need to be public before you walk in. But the rule has a boundary most Canadians are missing entirely.
H-1B Fee Watch
A Second Federal Court Blocked the $100K H-1B Fee. Here Is Why You Still Cannot Relax.
On September 30, U.S. District Judge Haywood Gilliam Jr. in California issued a preliminary injunction against DHS's latest enforcement attempt, finding the agency skipped required APA rulemaking. The fee is blocked again — but the $103,265 formal rulemaking is unaffected and still moving toward finalization.
Diversity Visa 2028
DV-2028 Registration Was Supposed to Open This Week. It Hasn't.
The Diversity Visa lottery registration window traditionally opens in the first week of October. DV-2028 was expected around October 7. As of today, dvprogram.state.gov says entries are not being accepted. Here is what happened to DV-2026, why DV-2027 never ran, and what the status of the program actually is right now.
October 2026 Bulletin
The October Bulletin Is Out. Chart B Is Back. And Rest of World Just Retrogressed.
USCIS opened the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based applicants for the first time since April — but October also brought unexpected retrogression for Rest of World EB-2 and EB-3 right at the fiscal year start. Here is what the actual numbers show, why ROW went backward when the year just reset, and who can file an I-485 today.
H-1B Policy Tracker
Five H-1B Changes Are in Motion at Once. Here Is the Full Scorecard.
In the span of sixty days, five separate H-1B regulatory actions have either taken effect, hit a comment deadline, or cleared a regulatory hurdle. One final rule is already costing employers money. One executive order is already generating RFEs. Two NPRMs are moving toward finalization. Here is what each one is, what it has done so far, and when the rest becomes enforceable.
EB-1 India Watch
EB-1 India Has 72 Hours. What Happens If the Category Closes Before October.
The September 2026 Visa Bulletin warned that EB-1 India may go Unavailable before September 30 if India's pro-rated annual limit is reached. With three days left in FY2026, here is what the closure looks like in practice, what it means for pending and unfiled cases, and what the FY2027 reset means for October.
EB-2 India First-Timers
EB-2 India Is Coming Back. Have Your I-485 Package Ready Before the Bulletin Drops.
EB-2 India has been Unavailable since May 2026. When the October Visa Bulletin arrives, the category resets with fresh FY2027 numbers and a projected Final Action Date around July 15, 2014. The filing landscape has changed: a new I-485 form mandatory since September 18, a new public charge rule in effect, no Dates for Filing chart for employment-based filers, and the no-RFE denial policy. Here is what to prepare before the bulletin drops.
H-1B Policy Watch
Your H-1B Is Now Under Layoff Review. Here Is What the New Executive Order Actually Does.
On September 18, 2026, Trump signed an executive order directing DOL, USCIS, and the State Department to consider employer layoff history when adjudicating H-1B applications. No automatic denial — but heightened scrutiny at every stage of the process. Here is what changed, who it affects, and what employers need to document before implementing guidance arrives.
H-1B Fee Watch
Proclamation 10973 Expired Yesterday. The Administration's Replacement Proposal Closes for Comment in Three Days.
The $100,000 H-1B fee died on September 20, 2026 — blocked by courts and expired without renewal. But the Department of Homeland Security published an NPRM proposing a $103,265 fee on all cap-subject H-1B petitions, with a comment deadline of September 24. Here is what changed, what is still in play, and what employers need to do before Thursday.
Priority Date Watch
EB-2 India Is About to Come Back. When It Does, EB-3 May No Longer Be the Smart Play.
EB-2 India has been Unavailable since May. October 1 brings fresh visa numbers — and analysts tracking FY2027 spillover projections expect EB-2 India to return at a date that would put it ahead of EB-3 India for the first time in months. Here is what the math says and what it means if you downgraded.
Affidavit of Support
USCIS Dropped a New I-864 Overnight. Then a Lawsuit Happened.
On August 31, USCIS quietly replaced Form I-864 with a new edition that authorizes the government to pull your credit report — effective immediately, no grace period. AILA sued. USCIS backed down. Here is what changed, what October 1 means, and what sponsors need to do.
International Students
The Rule Was Set to Take Effect Today. A Federal Judge Blocked It Yesterday.
On September 14, 2026, U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV issued a nationwide preliminary injunction stopping DHS's fixed admission period rule from replacing Duration of Status for F-1 and J-1 visa holders. Here is what the ruling means and what international students need to know right now.
Consular Processing
The Court Struck Down the Visa Ban. The State Department Paused All Appointments Anyway.
Judge Vargas of the Southern District of New York vacated the State Department's 75-country immigrant visa ban on August 21. Four days later, State paused immigrant visa appointments worldwide citing officer training. Here is what the sequence means for consular applicants.
H-1B Grace Period
The NPRM to Kill the 60-Day Grace Period Is Published. You Have Until November 10.
The proposed rule to eliminate the 60-day grace period for H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, and E-category workers landed in the Federal Register on September 11, 2026. The comment clock is running. Here is what the NPRM actually says, who needs to pay attention, and how the next 60 days can matter.
Diversity Visa 2026
The DV-2026 Hold Is Vacated. Selectees Have Until September 30.
A federal court vacated USCIS's indefinite hold on Diversity Visa 2026 adjustment-of-status applications on August 28, and ordered processing to resume. With September 30 twenty-one days away, here is what the ruling means and what DV selectees need to do right now.
I-485 Form Change
USCIS Switches the I-485 on September 18. File the Wrong Edition and the Package Comes Back.
On September 18, 2026, USCIS switches to a new edition of Form I-485 with expanded public charge questions. File the current edition on or after that date and the package is rejected with no grace period.
TPS Termination Alert
El Salvador TPS Ends in Four Days. Here Is What 232,000 TPS Holders and Their Employers Need to Do Before September 9.
Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador terminates on September 9, 2026, ending a 25-year designation. USCIS released a September 3 update on automatic EAD extensions — but only for a narrow group with pending renewals. For everyone else, the clock runs out in four days.
Filing Dates Alert
USCIS Has Blocked the Employment-Based Filing Window for Five Straight Months. October Is Where That Changes.
The Dates for Filing chart — the window that lets you submit your I-485 before your Final Action Date arrives — has been suspended for employment-based applicants since April 2026. Here is why it disappeared, what it would take for October to bring it back, and how to be ready if it does.
End-of-Year Alert
The September Warning Every EB-2 Applicant Should Read — Not Just India
The State Department warned that EB-2 for all countries — not just India — may become unavailable before September 30. Here's what that means, why no Chart B makes it worse, and what happens when FY2027 starts October 1.
H-1B Grace Period 2026
DHS's Proposal to Eliminate the H-1B 60-Day Grace Period Just Cleared White House Review. An NPRM Is Coming.
On August 27, 2026, DHS's proposed rule to eliminate the 60-day grace period for H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, and E-category workers cleared White House regulatory review. The NPRM can now be published in the Federal Register any day. This is different from the existing grace-period enforcement problem — this would end the grace period in regulation.
H-1B Program Overhaul
DHS Sent a Second H-1B Rule to OMB on August 24. This One Is About Who Gets to Use the Visa at All.
Two days before the $103,265 fee proposal hit the Federal Register, DHS submitted a separate H-1B overhaul rule to the White House for review. RIN 1615-AD00 targets cap exemption eligibility, employer violations, and third-party placements — program integrity questions that affect a different set of people than the fee.
Visa Enforcement 2026
200,000 Visas Are Getting Revoked. Who Is Actually at Risk and What It Means for Pending Green Card Cases.
U.S. officials confirmed on August 24 that the State Department is preparing to revoke the B-1/B-2 visas of up to 200,000 people who filed for asylum. This would be the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history. Here is who is in scope, who is not, and what the intersection with pending employment-based cases looks like.
H-1B Fee Proposal
DHS Just Proposed a $103,265 Fee on Every H-1B Cap Petition. It Is Not the Executive Order Fee.
On August 25, 2026, DHS published a notice of proposed rulemaking that would add $103,265 to every H-1B cap-subject petition — on top of every other fee employers already pay. This is not the $100,000 proclamation fee. It is a separate regulatory action with a broader scope, a different legal basis, and a 30-day comment window that closes in late September.
Visa Bulletin Analysis
The September 2026 Visa Bulletin Just Dropped. Employment Dates Are Frozen and Family Dates Jumped.
DOS released the September 2026 Visa Bulletin on August 22. Employment-based priority dates are unchanged from August — EB-2 India remains unavailable, EB-1 India is frozen at October 2022, and DOS has warned EB-1 India could become unavailable before September 30. Family categories moved significantly. Here is what the bulletin says and what it means.
H-1B Fee Update
The H-1B $100,000 Fee Proclamation Expires September 20. Here Is What the 30-Day Clock Actually Means.
Proclamation 10973 — the executive order that imposed the $100,000 H-1B fee — carries a built-in 12-month expiration date: September 20, 2026. The fee is currently blocked by a federal court. The First Circuit appeal is months from a decision. And with 30 days left on the clock, the administration has to choose: extend, let it expire, or issue something new. Each option has different consequences for employers, the litigation, and the unresolved question of refunds.
EB-1A / NIW Regulatory Update
The Proposed 'Higher Bar' for EB-1A and NIW Has Been Withdrawn. Here Is What That Actually Means.
USCIS has pulled RIN 1615-AC85 — the Petition for Immigrant Worker Reforms — from the 2026 Unified Regulatory Agenda. The rule that would have tightened evidentiary standards for extraordinary ability, outstanding professors, and national interest waiver petitions is not coming. Here is what the withdrawal means, what does not change, and why the adjudication environment is still harder than it was two years ago.
Form Deadline Alert
USCIS Is Replacing the I-539 and I-765 on September 15. There Is No Grace Period — Old Editions Are Rejected That Day.
On August 14, 2026, USCIS announced that it will publish new editions of Form I-539 and Form I-765 on September 15 — and will reject older editions filed on or after that date with no grace period. Here is what changed, who files these forms, and what to do before the deadline.
TPS Termination Alert
Somalia TPS Is Over. Your EAD Is Invalid as of Yesterday, and Employers Have to Reverify You Today.
On August 14, 2026, USCIS announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Somalia, effective immediately. EADs in categories A12 and C19 are no longer valid. Here is what just happened, what employers must do right now, and what options remain for former TPS holders.
H-1B Fee Alert 2026
DHS Just Expanded the $4,000 H-1B Fee to Same-Employer Extensions. Covered Employers Have Until September 9.
On August 10, 2026, DHS published a final rule requiring the 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee for same-employer H-1B and L-1 extension petitions — not just new hires and job changes. The rule takes effect September 9. Here is what the fee is, who counts as a covered employer, and what changes in less than four weeks.
USCIS Filing Rules 2026
USCIS Can Now Require You to File Online. Here's What the Mandatory E-Filing Rule Actually Does.
On August 10, 2026, DHS published an interim final rule giving USCIS legal authority to mandate electronic filing for any immigration form that has been available online for at least 180 days. It doesn't immediately mandate anything specific. Here is what the rule establishes, which forms are already eligible, and what happens next.
USCIS Policy Alert 2026
USCIS Just Changed How It Can Deny Your Application. The Policy That Required an RFE First Is Gone.
Effective August 5, 2026, USCIS updated its Policy Manual to allow officers to deny immigration benefit requests — H-1B petitions, I-485s, I-130s, and others — without first sending a Request for Evidence. Here is what the prior policy protected, what the new one removes, and what it means for any filing in the system right now.
Consular Processing 2026
The U.S. Just Closed Routine Visa Services at 25 African Posts. Here Is What That Means If You Need a Stamp or Have a Case in the Pipeline.
As of August 1, 2026, the State Department consolidated U.S. visa operations across Sub-Saharan Africa from roughly 50 posts down to 20 regional hubs — the largest overhaul of American consular services in a generation. Here is what it means for H-1B holders traveling home, immigrant visa applicants awaiting interviews, and DV lottery winners racing the September 30 deadline.
Immigration Enforcement 2026
ICE Is Now Arresting Travelers at Domestic Gates. If You Have a Pending I-485, You Need to Read This.
Today's Houston airport detention is the latest in a documented pattern: ICE is making 20 to 40 arrests per day at U.S. airports, including people with pending adjustment of status, EAD, and asylum applications. Here is what changed, who is at risk, and what to do before you fly.
EB-5 Investor Visa
EB-5 India's Unreserved Numbers Are Gone. The Reserved Set-Asides Are Not. Here's What That Distinction Actually Means.
The August 2026 Visa Bulletin marks EB-5 India unreserved as Unavailable — but the rural, infrastructure, and high-unemployment TEA set-asides created by the 2022 Reform Act remain open. Here is how the two pools work, who can still file, and what to watch before September 30.
Immigration Legislation
Democrats Revived the Green Card Registry Bill Last Week. H-1B Workers in the US for 7 Years Need to Understand What It Would — and Wouldn't — Do.
On July 28, 2026, Senator Alex Padilla reintroduced the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 — a bill that would let anyone who has lived continuously in the US for at least 7 years apply for a green card through the Registry, bypassing the priority date queue entirely. Here is what the provision is, who qualifies, and what the forum posts are getting wrong.
September 2026 Visa Bulletin Preview
The September 2026 Visa Bulletin Is Two Weeks Out. Here Is What the August Warning Numbers Actually Mean.
The August 2026 Visa Bulletin warned that EB-1 India may go unavailable before September 30. The September bulletin — expected around August 12 — will determine whether that happens. Here is what each major category is signaling, what the end of FY2026 typically produces, and what to do before October 1.
H-1B Fee Litigation
The First Circuit Won't Revive the $100,000 H-1B Fee. Here Is Where Things Stand.
On July 24, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit denied the Trump administration's request to restore the $100,000 H-1B petition fee while the government's appeal is pending. The June 8 district court vacatur stands. Here is what the fee was, how it ended up in court, and what the July 24 ruling means for employers filing today.
Visa Bulletin August 2026
The August 2026 Bulletin Moved F2A 19 Months. If You're the Spouse of a Green Card Holder, That's Your Number.
The August 2026 Visa Bulletin jumped the F2A Final Action Date from January 1, 2025 to July 22, 2026 — nearly 19 months forward in a single bulletin. Spouses and minor children of green card holders who have been waiting years may now be current on Final Action Dates. Here is what the jump means and what to do with it.
F-1 & J-1 Final Rule
DHS Published the Final D/S Rule on July 17. Duration of Status Ends September 15, and the Final Version Also Restricts School Transfers and Academic Progression.
On July 17, 2026, DHS published a final rule in the Federal Register eliminating Duration of Status for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and I visa holders. The rule takes effect September 15. The final version added academic mobility restrictions — on school transfers, major changes, and degree-level progression — that were not in the original framing. Here is what changed, what the transition rules actually say, and what every F-1 student needs to do before the deadline.
Public Charge Rule 2026
DHS Finalized a New Public Charge Rule on July 16. Medicaid, SNAP, and Housing Assistance Are Now in Play Starting September 18.
On July 16, 2026, DHS rescinded the 2022 Biden-era public charge standard and published a new final rule in the Federal Register. Starting September 18, USCIS officers will evaluate Medicaid, SNAP, and means-tested housing assistance under a totality-of-circumstances test. A new Form I-485 is required. Here is what changed, who is actually at risk, and what to do before the deadline.
August 2026 Visa Bulletin
The August 2026 Visa Bulletin Is Out. DOS Just Warned That EB-1 India May Go Unavailable Before October.
The Department of State published the August 2026 Visa Bulletin on July 20. EB-1 India held at October 15, 2022 — but DOS added an explicit warning that the category may become unavailable in the coming weeks. EB-2 India remains unavailable. EB-3 China advanced. Here is what the bulletin means for every nationality and category.
H-1B Cap Season
USCIS Filled the FY 2027 H-1B Cap on July 17. No Second Lottery Is Coming. Here Is Where Things Stand.
On July 17, 2026, USCIS confirmed that all 85,000 FY 2027 H-1B cap slots have been filled — 65,000 regular plus 20,000 master's exemption. The filing window closed June 30. No additional selection rounds will happen. Here is what the cap closure means for pending petitions, unselected workers, and anyone planning for FY 2028.
Supreme Court Watch
Trump Is Asking the Supreme Court to Rehear the Birthright Citizenship Case. What That Actually Means.
On July 8, 2026, Trump announced he would petition the Supreme Court to rehear Trump v. Barbara, the June 30 ruling upholding birthright citizenship for children of H-1B and other visa holders. The formal petition has not yet been filed. The deadline is July 25. Here is how rehearing petitions work, when they have ever succeeded, and what this means for families who depend on this ruling.
Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court Settled Birthright Citizenship on June 30. What Trump v. Barbara Decided, and What It Means If Your Child Was Born in the United States.
In a 6–3 decision issued June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court struck down Executive Order 14160, which tried to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. to parents on temporary visas or unlawful status. Chief Justice Roberts wrote the majority. If you are on H-1B, L-1, F-1, or any nonimmigrant visa and have a U.S.-born child, here is what the ruling actually says.
Naturalization Fee Proposal
USCIS Wants to Raise the Citizenship Application Fee 75 Percent. Fee Waivers Would Disappear. The Comment Window Closes August 24.
On June 23, 2026, DHS proposed hiking the Form N-400 fee from $760 to $1,330 for paper filers and from $710 to $1,280 online. The more significant change is the proposed elimination of fee waivers and the reduced-fee option for lower-income applicants. The public comment period closes August 24, 2026.
TPS & Work Authorization
TPS Work Permits for Seven Countries Expire July 17. What Mullin v. Doe Actually Changed, and What It Didn't.
On June 25, 2026, the Supreme Court's Mullin v. Doe decision cleared the path for DHS to terminate TPS without judicial review. USCIS issued short-term EAD extensions for seven countries through July 17 and 24. Here is what changed, what options remain, and what TPS holders need to understand before those deadlines arrive.
H-1B & PERM Reform Alert
DHS Put an H-1B Third-Party Placement Overhaul on the Calendar for August. DOL Is Rewriting PERM. Here Is What the July 7 Regulatory Agenda Actually Said.
On July 7, 2026, DHS, DOL, and State published their regulatory agendas. The two items with the broadest reach for employment-based immigrants: a new NPRM on H-1B third-party placements, listed for August 2026, and the first overhaul of PERM recruitment standards in more than twenty years. Neither is law yet. Here is what the agenda signals and what it doesn't.
EB-5 NPRM July 2026
DHS Published a 358-Page EB-5 Proposed Rule on July 2. The Bridge Financing Change Is the One That Will Reshape the Market.
On July 2, 2026, DHS dropped a 358-page Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to implement the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022. The comment period closes August 31. The most consequential proposal is the elimination of bridge financing as a basis for job creation. Here is what is in it, what is not yet in effect, and what the September 30 grandfathering deadline actually means.
H-1B Wages July 2026
H-1B Prevailing Wages Updated July 1. The Much Bigger NPRM Is Still Pending. Here Is What Each One Does.
Every H-1B LCA filed after July 1, 2026 must use updated OEWS prevailing wage data — the routine annual increase. This is not the DOL's March 2026 proposed rule that would raise wages 21–33 percent across wage levels. That NPRM is still unfinalized, still facing legal challenge, and still under review six weeks after comments closed. Here is what changed, what didn't, and what both mean for current H-1B and PERM filings.
August 2026 Preview
The August Visa Bulletin Drops July 20. Three Categories Have Active Warnings. Here Is What Each One Means.
EB-1 India retrogressed in July and carries a warning about further movement. EB-2 China has an active warning that mirrors the language used before India EB-2 went unavailable. Philippines EB-3 has the same retrogression warning for the second consecutive month. The August bulletin releases around July 20 — here is what each signal means and who needs to act before that date.
FY2027 Reset
October 1 Is Three Months Away. Here Is What the FY2027 Reset Actually Means for EB-2 India, EB-3, and Everyone Watching Priority Dates.
EB-2 India has been unavailable since May. EB-5 Unreserved India hit zero in July. The fiscal year ends September 30 and October 1 brings 140,000 fresh visa numbers — but the reset does not work the way most people in the queue assume it does.
Philippines EB-3 Alert
EB-3 Philippines Has Been Warned Twice. The Date Has Not Moved. Here Is What the Last Two Bulletins of FY2026 Mean.
The July 2026 Visa Bulletin held EB-3 Philippines at August 1, 2023 for the second straight month while repeating the same warning about potential retrogression or unavailability before September 30. The same language appeared in June. With only two bulletins left before FY2027 resets, Filipino EB-3 applicants who are current under the Final Action Date and have not yet filed I-485 need to act before the August bulletin drops around July 20.
Family Green Cards July 2026
F1 Advanced Five Months to February 2018. Family Categories Get Chart B While Employment Does Not. Here Is Who Should Act Before August.
The July 2026 Visa Bulletin advanced F1 final action dates five months to February 1, 2018 and opened Chart B for family-sponsored applicants — while employment-based categories remain locked to Final Action Dates for the third month in a row. Here is who just became current, what the Dates for Filing chart means in practice, and why the August bulletin arriving around July 20 creates a real deadline.
China Green Card 2026
EB-2 China Got a Retrogression Warning. EB-3 China Jumped Five Months. Here Is What the Gap Means for You.
The July 2026 Visa Bulletin held EB-2 China at September 1, 2021 while warning explicitly that retrogression or unavailability could come before September 30 — and simultaneously advanced EB-3 China by nearly five months to December 22, 2021. That four-month gap is now a real filing window for PERM holders. Here is who benefits, how the downgrade works, and what to do before the August bulletin.
EB-2 NIW India 2026
EB-2 NIW India Is Unavailable. You Have No Downgrade Path. Here Is What to Do Until October.
PERM-based EB-2 India applicants can file a new EB-3 I-140 and sidestep the unavailability window. NIW self-petitioners cannot — EB-3 requires a labor certification that NIW specifically waives. Here is what the situation looks like for NIW holders right now: pending I-485 mechanics, EAD timing, job changes under AC21, and what October's FY2027 reset is actually expected to bring.
Discretionary EAD 2026
DHS Is Proposing to Restrict Three EAD Categories. The Comment Window Closes August 4.
On June 5, 2026, DHS published an NPRM proposing to add criminal bars, an E-Verify employer requirement, and a one-year validity cap to work permits in three specific categories: c(11) humanitarian parolees, c(14) deferred action recipients, and c(18) people on orders of supervision. Here is who is in each category, what changes, and what the August 4 deadline means in practice.
H-1B Fee Update
The $100,000 H-1B Fee Is Back. Not for Everyone. Here Is What Actually Applies to You.
Six days after a federal court struck it down, the $100,000 H-1B fee was reinstated by court stay on June 12. It is back in effect — but only for petitions requiring consular processing, not for extensions, changes of status, or amendments. Here is what the scope actually is, the travel trap that converts an exempt petition into a $100,000 one, and where the First Circuit takes this next.
July 2026 Visa Bulletin
The July Bulletin Is Out. EB-1 India Fell Again, and EB-3 Has the Only Window Open.
The July 2026 Visa Bulletin dropped this week with EB-1 India retrogressing again to October 15, 2022 — two full months behind June's cutoff. EB-2 India stays Unavailable. EB-5 India Unreserved just hit its annual limit. EB-3 India inched to January 1, 2014. Here is what every key number means and what to do before September 30.
EB-1 India 2026
EB-1 India Is on the Same Cliff EB-2 Already Fell Off. What to Do Before September 30.
The June 2026 Visa Bulletin retrogressed EB-1 India by three and a half months and formally warned that the category may go unavailable before fiscal year 2026 ends on September 30. EB-2 India went unavailable in May and had a downgrade path to EB-3. EB-1 has no equivalent exit. Here is what the warning means for EB-1A, EB-1B, and EB-1C holders, and what to do before the July bulletin drops around June 20.
H-1B Court Ruling
The $100,000 H-1B Fee Is Gone — For Now
On June 8, 2026, a federal court in Massachusetts vacated the $100,000 supplemental payment requirement attached to certain H-1B petitions since September 2025. The government is expected to appeal. Here is what the ruling said, why it worked, and what employers need to do right now.
I-485 Discretion RFE
Your Pending I-485 Just Got a New Question. It's Not About Eligibility.
Since late May 2026, USCIS officers have been issuing a new category of RFE on pending adjustment of status applications — one that doesn't ask about missing documents but asks why you deserve a favorable exercise of discretion. Here is what the RFEs are saying, what the factors on the officer's list look like, and how to respond without getting denied.
Visa Bulletin Preview
EB-2 India Is Frozen Through September. EB-3 India Has a Window Right Now.
The July 2026 visa bulletin is expected within the next two weeks. EB-2 India will show Unavailable — all FY2026 visas ran out on May 22. EB-3 India has a live filing window between September 2013 and December 2013. Here is what each employment-based category will show, what the downgrade strategy actually requires, and why October is the date that matters.
Court Watch
The April Court Win Helped 83 People. The June 5 Ruling Helps Everyone.
On June 5, 2026, Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. of the U.S. District Court for Rhode Island vacated all four USCIS policies that had frozen immigration benefits for nationals of 39 designated countries since late 2025 — including holds on I-485 approvals, EAD renewals, and naturalization. Unlike the April Maryland injunction that helped only 83 named plaintiffs, this ruling is nationwide.
H-1B Grace Period 2026
The H-1B 60-Day Grace Period Has a Hole in It. Here Is What's Actually Happening.
Since July 2025, USCIS has been issuing Notices to Appear to H-1B workers whose employers withdrew their petitions — sometimes before the 60 days are up, sometimes while a transfer petition is already pending with a new employer. Here is how it works, why the May 2026 AOS memo makes it worse, and what to do the moment a layoff happens.
Gold Card Visa 2026
Trump's Gold Card Visa Has One Approval After Six Months. Here Is What the Program Actually Is.
Executive Order 14351 created a $1 million path to a U.S. green card in September 2025. Six months after the program opened, 338 people have applied, 165 have paid the $15,000 vetting fee, and one has an approved Gold Card. Here is what the program actually requires, how it differs from EB-5, and the federal lawsuit that could end it.
H-1B Visa Stamping 2026
H-1B Visa Stamps Are Backed Up Into 2027. Here Is What Actually Happened.
Three policy changes hit US consulates in fall 2025 in quick succession: third-country processing ended, the interview waiver was eliminated, and social media vetting began. Indian consulates are now showing no available H-visa appointments through 2026. Here is what created the crisis, what it means for H-1B travel, and what holders with pending I-485s need to know.
EB-2 India: Visas Exhausted
EB-2 India Hit Its Annual Limit on May 22. The Green Card Pipeline Is Frozen Until October.
On May 22, 2026, DOS confirmed that every EB-2 immigrant visa available to Indian-born applicants for FY2026 has been issued. No I-485 approvals, no consular visa issuances — the queue is frozen until October 1. Here is what that means for every type of pending case.
EB-2 NIW 2026
NIW Approval Rates Have Nearly Halved in Three Years. Here Is What Changed.
The EB-2 National Interest Waiver was approving more than 95% of petitions as recently as FY2022. Case tracking for March 2026 puts the rate at around 44%. The Dhanasar framework has not been repealed. What changed is how USCIS applies it — and the new AOS discretion overlay that every pending NIW case now faces.
Consular Processing 2026
USCIS Told You to Get Your Green Card at the Consulate. Here Is What That Actually Involves.
The May 21 USCIS discretion memo reframes consular processing as the default path for most green card applicants. For employment-based applicants who have spent years inside the US, 'going to the consulate' means the NVC pipeline, an immigrant visa interview abroad, extended separation from US employment, and a set of risks that adjustment of status does not carry. Here is what the path actually looks like.
I-485 Denial & Removal Risk
If USCIS Denies Your I-485, You Might Get More Than a Rejection Letter
The February 2025 NTA policy and the May 2026 AOS discretion memo work together in a way most applicants have not been told: a denied I-485 can now trigger a Notice to Appear and removal proceedings. Here is exactly who is at risk, what the employment-based exception actually covers, and what to do before this becomes your problem.
USCIS Interviews 2026
USCIS Is Scheduling More Employment-Based Green Card Interviews. And Your Attorney Has to Show Up in Person Now.
Two policy changes landed in May 2026 that every employment-based I-485 applicant needs to understand. USCIS tightened interview waiver criteria, so more people in the EB-1 through EB-3 pipeline are being called in for field office interviews. And effective May 18, if your attorney isn't physically in the room, they aren't at the interview at all.
AOS Discretion 2026
USCIS Just Called Every I-485 an "Act of Administrative Grace." Here's What the New Discretion Memo Actually Changes.
On May 21, 2026, USCIS issued policy memorandum PM-602-0199 reminding officers that adjustment of status under INA 245 is "a matter of discretion and administrative grace" and an "extraordinary relief" that is not designed to supersede the ordinary consular visa process. The memo doesn't change the statute. It changes how every I-485 — pending or not yet filed — will be adjudicated going forward. Here is what the memo actually says, why dual intent alone is no longer enough, and what to do if you have an AOS case in the pipeline.
USCIS Filing Rules 2026
Starting July 10, USCIS Can Deny Your Filing and Keep the Fee. Here's What Changed.
On May 11, 2026, DHS finalized an interim rule giving USCIS authority to deny immigration benefit requests containing invalid signatures — and keep the filing fees. No RFE, no chance to fix it. The rule covers I-485, I-140, I-130, H-1B petitions, and EAD applications filed on or after July 10.
H-4 EAD 2026
The 540-Day Auto-Extension Is Gone. What That Means for Your Work Authorization.
On October 30, 2025, DHS eliminated the automatic employment authorization extension that had protected H-4 EAD holders from work gaps during renewal processing. With USCIS taking 5 to 9 months on initial applications and 3 to 7 months on renewals, the gap between card expiration and approval is no longer theoretical. Two lawsuits are pending. No court has issued an injunction. Here is what changed, who is affected, and what to do.
June 2026 Filing Window
No Chart B Again in June. EB-2 India Is Back at 2013. Here's What the Pattern Means.
USCIS confirmed this week that employment-based I-485 applicants must use Final Action Dates for June 2026 — the second consecutive month without Chart B. Combined with the EB-2 India retrogression to September 2013 and EB-1 India pulling back to December 2022, the filing window is significantly narrower than it was sixty days ago. Here is what the pattern is telling you and what to do.
F-1 & J-1 Rule Change 2026
DHS Is Ending "Duration of Status." Here's What the 4-Year Cap Does to You.
On May 5, 2026, DHS sent a final rule to the White House that would replace the longstanding Duration of Status system for F-1 and J-1 visa holders with a hard four-year admission cap. Every student who needs more time — and that includes virtually every doctoral student — would have to file Form I-539 with USCIS. DHS estimates the rule generates 414,000 extra filings a year into an already backed-up system. Here is what it actually changes and what to do about it.
June 2026 Visa Bulletin
EB-1 India and EB-2 India Just Retrogressed. China Did Not Move.
The June 2026 Visa Bulletin holds EB-1 China and EB-2 China at the same dates as May, but pulls EB-1 India back three and a half months and EB-2 India back more than ten. EB-1 China and EB-1 India were sitting on the same date last month — that has now broken. Here is what changed, why India is the one giving back ground, and what the State Department's warning at the bottom of the page actually means.
USCIS Security Vetting 2026
USCIS Switched to the FBI's New Fingerprint Database on April 27. Green Card Approvals Are Stalling.
On April 27, 2026, USCIS activated the FBI's Next Generation Identification system and immediately paused final approvals on thousands of pending I-485, N-400, and asylum cases. No timeline has been published. Here is what actually changed and what applicants need to know right now.
DOL Proposed Rule 2026
DOL Wants to Double the H-1B Wage Floor. The Comment Deadline Is May 26.
The Department of Labor filed a proposed rule on March 27 that would raise prevailing wage percentiles for H-1B, PERM, and related programs across all four wage levels. Level I moves from the 17th to the 34th percentile; Level IV moves from the 67th to the 88th. DOL estimates the average certified wage goes up $14,000 a year. Comments close May 26, 2026.
EB-5 May 2026
The Retrogression Warning India's EB-5 Investors Just Got — and What It Actually Means
The May 2026 Visa Bulletin issued an explicit warning that India's EB-5 Unreserved category may retrogress before September 30, 2026. The Final Action Date sits at May 1, 2022, reserved categories remain Current, and DOS is saying demand has outpaced the annual quota. Here's what actually changes, and what it doesn't.
H-1B Cap Season 2026
The FY2027 H-1B Lottery Used a Wage Formula for the First Time. Here's What Actually Happened.
The FY2027 H-1B cap lottery replaced the random draw with a wage-level weighting system for the first time. Level I registrations saw about 15 percent selection odds. Level IV saw about 61 percent. Every selected petition also carries a $100,000 additional fee this cycle. Here is what the first-year results showed, and what employers and workers need to know before the filing window closes June 30.
Visa Bulletin May 2026
While Employment Cases Froze, Family Categories Moved Six Months Forward. Here's the Part Nobody Covered.
The May 2026 Visa Bulletin closed the employment-based Chart B window and got all the attention. What didn't: F2A jumped six months on Final Action Dates and sits at Current on Dates for Filing, meaning LPR spouses and minor children can file I-485 right now regardless of priority date. F1, F3, and F4 also advanced.
USCIS Policy Watch
USCIS Froze Green Card Decisions for Dozens of Designated Countries. A Federal Court Just Pushed Back.
USCIS Policy Memos PM-602-0192 and PM-602-0194 placed adjudicative holds on pending immigration benefits for nationals of designated countries. Here is what the holds do, who they affect, and what the April 27 Maryland court order changed.
H-1B Reform Watch
Congress Filed a Bill to Pause H-1B Visas for Three Years. Let's Read What It Actually Says.
Rep. Eli Crane introduced the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026 on April 22 alongside seven House Republican co-sponsors. The bill proposes a three-year freeze on new H-1B issuances, a cap of 25,000, a $200,000 salary floor, OPT elimination, and a prohibition on adjustment of status. Here is a plain-language read of what it says and where it actually stands.
Visa Bulletin Breaking
USCIS Just Killed Chart B for Employment Cases. What April 30 Actually Means.
USCIS is switching employment-based I-485 filings to Final Action Dates starting May 2026, ending a six-month Chart B streak. A plain-language read on who gets cut off on April 30, what DOS is telling us between the lines about the rest of FY26, and what the last six days actually look like.
Priority Date Strategy
Priority Date Retention: What an Approved I-140 Still Gets You After a Job Change
What you actually keep after an approved I-140: priority date retention, employer withdrawal after 180 days, the exceptions that can still kill the case, and what has to be refiled.
AC21 Portability
AC21 Portability: How to Change Jobs After Filing I-485 Without Blowing Up the Case
The real rules for changing jobs after your I-485 has been pending 180 days: same or similar work, Supplement J, pay and title changes, and the evidence that makes USCIS less nervous.
Layoff Survival Guide
Laid Off on H-1B During the Green Card Process? What Changes at Each Stage
A stage-by-stage guide to layoffs during PERM, after I-140 approval, and after I-485 filing, including the 60-day grace period, new H-1B filing timing, priority date retention, and AC21 portability.
Visa Bulletin Guide
How to Read the Visa Bulletin If You've Never Seen One Before
A plain-English walkthrough of the monthly Visa Bulletin: what the two charts mean, how to find your category and country, and how to tell whether your priority date is current.
Green Card Strategy
EB-2 to EB-3 Downgrade: When It Makes Sense and When It Doesn't
A realistic look at the EB-2 to EB-3 downgrade strategy for employment-based green card applicants, including who benefits, what it costs, and why it's not always the slam dunk people think it is.
Filing Guide
What Actually Happens After Your Priority Date Becomes Current
A step-by-step guide to what happens once you see your priority date is current on the Visa Bulletin, from choosing between I-485 and consular processing to surviving the wait after filing.
Immigration Timeline
H-1B to Green Card: The Timeline Nobody Tells You About
The real end-to-end timeline from H-1B visa to green card, including PERM labor certification, I-140, priority dates, and the waiting game. Honest numbers for EB-2 India, EB-2 China, and rest of world.
China Applicants
Green Card Strategy for China Mainland-Born Applicants
An overview of the green card backlog for China mainland-born applicants and strategies to manage or reduce the wait, including NIW, EB-1A, cross-chargeability, and status maintenance options.
India Applicants
Green Card Wait Times for India-Born Applicants: The Real Picture
An honest look at the EB-2 and EB-3 India green card backlog, what the per-country cap means, strategies to reduce the wait, and how to plan your career and family life around a decades-long timeline.
Planning Strategy
Cross-Chargeability: Using Your Spouse's Country of Birth to Jump a Backlog
An end-to-end explainer on cross-chargeability — the rule that lets married couples use whichever spouse's country of birth gives a faster priority date. How it works, who qualifies, and how to claim it at the right step without tripping up your case.
Reading the Bulletin
Retrogression, Forward Movement, and Current: What Those Words Mean on the Bulletin
Every month the Visa Bulletin moves — sometimes forward, sometimes backward, sometimes not at all. This guide unpacks what 'retrogression' actually is, why it happens, why forward movement slows in late fiscal year, and how to read the movement without panic.
The Two-Chart System
Filing Chart vs Final Action: Which One Applies to You This Month, and Why It Keeps Changing
USCIS decides every month whether to honor Chart B (Dates for Filing) or only Chart A (Final Action Dates). This is the single most misunderstood mechanism in the Visa Bulletin. Here is exactly how it works, why it flips, and what it means for your I-485.