The Trump administration has directed U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to temporarily pause and reschedule immigrant visa interviews while consular officers undergo mandatory training on enhanced screening procedures, including the public charge ground of inadmissibility.
Continue Reading State Department Pauses Immigrant Visa Interviews Worldwide as Consular Officers Undergo New Public Charge Training
On Aug. 21, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a decision in Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), et al. v. Rubio, striking down a Department of State policy that suspended immigrant visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries based on generalized public charge concerns and vacated the policy.
Continue Reading Federal Court Suspends State Department’s Immigrant Visa Ban Affecting 75 Countries
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
The U.S. Department of State has added a new “Specialized Trainer” subcategory to the B-1 business visitor classification, offering multinational companies a clearer framework for bringing foreign experts to the United States to transfer proprietary knowledge to U.S. workers.
On Feb. 28, 2026, the U.S. Department of State issued a Worldwide Caution security alert following the launch of U.S. combat operations in Iran.
Continue Reading State Department Issues Worldwide Caution: What Visa Applicants and US Travelers Need to Know
With annual appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) having lapsed on Feb. 14, 2026, immigration stakeholders are again navigating the practical consequences of a DHS-specific shutdown. Despite the
Continue Reading The Current DHS Shutdown’s Impact on Immigration Agencies
The January 2026 Visa Bulletin appears to deliver positive developments for employment-based immigration, with notable forward movement across most categories. Both Final Action Dates (Chart A) and Dates for Filing
Continue Reading January 2026 Visa Bulletin: Key Movements and EB-5 Advancements for China
The U.S. government is rapidly expanding its use of AI across immigration and visa adjudications. While much of the public discussion focuses on efficiency and enforcement, these developments carry concrete
Continue Reading The US Government’s Expanding Use of AI in Immigration Adjudications: Considerations for Employers and Investors
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
Continue Reading US Consulates in India Conduct Mass Rescheduling of Visa Appointments as New Screening Rules Launch
In November 2025, both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State (DOS) signaled changes to how the U.S. government will determine whether visa applicants or those
Continue Reading Comparing the 2025 DHS and DOS Approaches to Public Charge Inadmissibility