The Department of State has established a Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force to address visa misuse associated with travel to the United States for childbirth.
Continue Reading New State Department Task Force Expands Visa Enforcement Against Birth Tourism
The Department of State (DOS) established a temporary Paid Expedite pilot program allowing certain B-1/B-2 visa applicants to pay an additional fee for expedited visa interview scheduling. DOS has now launched the pilot program, providing eligible applicants at designated U.S. consular posts with the opportunity to obtain earlier visa interview appointments.
Continue Reading Department of State Launches $750 Paid Expedite Pilot Program for B-1/B-2 Visa Interview Appointments
Recent USCIS policy changes and Department of State staffing challenges may affect employment-based permanent residence processing.
The Supreme Court addressed a challenge to an executive order seeking to narrow birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment.
Continue Reading Supreme Court Rejects Effort to Limit Birthright Citizenship
U.S. consular operations in Israel have resumed after the prior closure of the U.S. Branch Office in Tel Aviv and the pause in consular processing.
The Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have announced expansions to screening and vetting across consular visa processing and USCIS immigration benefit adjudications.
Continue Reading DOS and USCIS Expand Immigration Screening Across Visas and Benefits
Despite heightened scrutiny, evolving adjudication standards, and continued operational pressure on U.S. immigration agencies, 2026 may prove a viable — and even advantageous — year for U.S. employers to sponsor global talent. The employers who may see the greatest success might approach sponsorship strategically, plan well in advance, and incorporate lessons learned from government practices
On Jan. 9, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will publish a final rule increasing USCIS fees for premium processing.
Premium processing provides expedited processing for certain case types for an additional government filing fee.
In the announcement, USCIS stated that the premium process fee increase
U.S. consulates across India have begun cancelling and automatically rescheduling H-1B and H-4 visa appointments (often 90 to 120 days later) due to the new online presence and social media vetting rules taking effect Dec. 15, 2025. Although the Department of State (DOS) has not issued a formal announcement, all major posts, including Chennai, Hyderabad
This CNBC TV 18 article discusses the U.S. Department of Labor’s Project Firewall, launched in September 2025 to intensify enforcement against misuse of the H-1B visa program and prioritize American workers. The initiative allows the government to investigate employers proactively and is accompanied by a public campaign emphasizing job protection. Greenberg Traurig Immigration Co-Chair Kate