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
Recent changes to the Foreign Affairs Manual offer crucial clarity for employers and foreign nationals in the hemp industry, ensuring that lawful hemp-related activities are no longer automatically treated as marijuana involvement for visa purposes. This update supports workforce mobility and reduces the risk of visa denials for those working in the fast-growing global hemp sector.
Continue Reading New Foreign Affairs Manual Guidance: Legal Hemp Activities No Longer Grounds for Visa Inadmissibility
In late August 2025, Department of State (DOS) guidance cables were released providing employers with valuable insight into how the June 2025 travel restrictions operate in practice.
Continue Reading Travel Ban Impacts on U.S. Employers and Foreign National Employees: New Insights from Recently Released State Department Guidance
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Aug. 8, 2025, that it is updating its guidance on Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) age calculations. The new guidance applies to
Continue Reading USCIS Updates Child Status Protection Act Age Calculation Policy – Considerations for Employers and Employees
The U.S. Department of State has announced a new visa bond pilot program that, while currently limited in scope, may introduce new challenges to business travel starting Aug. 20, 2025.
According to an internal State Department cable dated May 27, 2025, all consular interviews for the F, M, and J visa applicants are to be temporarily paused.
Continue Reading Temporary Pause on Foreign Student and Exchange Visitor F, M, and J Visa Interviews
On April 30, 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a shift in U.S. immigration policy by formally introducing the State Department (DOS)’s “catch-and-revoke” visa policy.
Continue Reading An Overview of the Department of State’s New ‘Catch-and-Revoke’ Visa Policy
Based on similar notifications posted on Embassy and Consular, it appears the U.S. Department of State has recently updated its procedural guidelines related to DS-160s for many consular posts. For
Continue Reading New DS-160 Submission Guidance and Focus
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem signed a memorandum deputizing up to 600 special agents within the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service across the country to help with
Continue Reading DHS Secretary Noem Deputizes State Department Officials as Immigration Officers
In a significant development for visa applicants, all U.S. consulates in Mexico announced that they have stopped accepting visa applications from third country nationals (TCNs) until further notice. This decision
Continue Reading US Consulates in Mexico Halt TCN Visa Processing