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On December 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced that, effective December 15, 2025, it will expand its screening of H-1B and H-4 (dependents of H-1B) to their online presence. As of June 23, 2025, the DOS has been requiring such a similar expanded social media screening of students and researchers in F-1, M-1, and J1 visa status. H-1B and H-4 visa applicants will soon be required to adjust their privacy settings on all social media profiles to “public."

As of the week of December 8, 2025, H-1B and H-4 visa applicants have reported that various U.S...

On December 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced that, effective December 15, 2025, it will expand its screening of H-1B and H-4 (dependents of H-1B) to their online presence. As of June 23, 2025, the DOS has been requiring such a similar expanded social media screening of students and researchers in F-1, M-1, and J1 visa status. H-1B and H-4 visa applicants will soon be required to adjust their privacy settings on all social media profiles to “public.”

Consular officers must review all available information, including online presence, to determine whether applicants pose a threat to...

On December 2, 2025, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a new policy memo directing officers to pause all asylum applications (Form I-589) regardless of the applicant’s country of origin. Additionally, USCIS is pausing all pending benefit requests where the individual was born or is a citizen of one of the 19 high-risk countries listed under Presidential Proclamation 10949 issued on June 4, 2025. Such benefits include applications for permanent residence, permanent residence card renewals, petitions to remove conditions on residence, and travel-document applications. We also believe this pause applies to petitions for a range of nonimmigrant...

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that they will be publishing an Interim Final Rule (IFR) tomorrow (October 30, 2025) which terminates the automatic extension of certain employment authorization documents (EADs).

In order to work in the U.S., individuals must provide evidence that they have employment authorization from the government. U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents have documentation to show this. Those in the U.S. in nonimmigrant visa statuses that allow them to work incidental to their statuses (e.g., H-1B, O-1, TN, L-1A, L-1B) have their documentation as well. Certain individuals rely however on having valid EADs. These include...

On September 19, 2025, the White House issued a Proclamation announcing an additional fee of $100,000 that employers would have to pay in connection with H-1B petitions for individuals outside of the United States. The requirement would take effect on 12:01AM Eastern Daylight Time on September 21, 2025. The Proclamation generated a lot of questions including whether individuals seeking H-1B status would have to rush back to the United States prior to the effective date. Since then, government agencies have issued communications but crucial questions remain unanswered. There have also been two high profile lawsuits filed against the government, including...

On Friday afternoon, September 19, 2025, the White House issued a Proclamation that impacts the H-1B program – one of the most popular visa programs for U.S. employers hiring professionals. The H-1B program is available where a U.S. employer offers a specialty occupation position, one that requires at least a degree in a specific field, and where the employer promises to pay a wage that is at or above the prevailing wage for the geographic area in which the worksite is located. Each year there is more demand than availability of such visas. The EO frames the measure as a...