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.
The DOS published a temporary final rule amending the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services to establish a new fee for expedited nonimmigrant visa interview appointments.
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
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
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
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has added additional countries to the list of nationals subject to the visa-bond pilot program (as reported in our previous blog pieces on Zambia
Continue Reading Updated: US Visa-Bond Pilot Program Expands to Additional Countries
The U.S. Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC) has issued updated guidance that impacts employment-based immigrant visa applicants, including EB-5 investors. This change is especially relevant for globally mobile
Continue Reading NVC Update: Residency Proof Now Required for Employment-Based and EB-5 Immigrant Visa Applicants
The federal government shutdown is disrupting some immigration functions. Most significantly, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)’s FLAG system is down, preventing the filing of LCAs, prevailing wage requests, and
Continue Reading Government Shutdown: What Employers Need to Know About Immigration Services
The Department of State (DOS) has expanded the visa bond pilot program under Section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to include The Gambia, effective Oct. 11, 2025.
Continue Reading US Expands Visa Bond Pilot Program to Include the Gambia
On Sept. 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of State issued updated guidance directing that nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applicants (E, F, H, J, L, O, etc.) must generally schedule their visa
Continue Reading Adjudicating Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants in Their Country of Residence — Implications for Employers and Employees