In a new procedural development, U.S. consular posts have started forwarding B-1 in lieu of H-1B visa applications to the Department of State (DOS)’s Visa Office in Washington, D.C., for
Continue Reading US Consulates Now Requiring Additional Review in Washington for B-1 in Lieu of H-1B Visa Applications
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 line between permissible business visitor activities and unauthorized employment has come under heightened scrutiny. A recent large-scale raid – where foreign nationals were found working on B-1/ESTA entries – demonstrates how costly missteps can be.
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
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
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.
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced July 25, 2025, a significant change to its interview waiver policy effective Sept. 2, 2025. This policy revision will require most nonimmigrant visa
Continue Reading DOS to Require In-Person Consular Interviews for Most Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law H.R.1, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (Public Law 119-21), introducing new U.S. immigration fees that will affect employers
Continue Reading The $250 Visa Integrity Fee: What Employers and Foreign Nationals Need to Know About the Latest Immigration Cost Increase
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