Immigration Law and Legal Insights

Federal immigration law treats failure to satisfy vaccination requirements as a potential ground of inadmissibility for green card and immigrant visa applicants. Understanding how to properly document religious or moral objections to vaccination can determine whether a waiver is available and how USCIS evaluates the request.

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has announced that it will expand its online presence review requirements to additional nonimmigrant visa applicants beginning Oct. 1, 2026.

The Trump administration announced two additional significant actions affecting the H-1B program late last week, increasing scrutiny of employers that have conducted or are planning layoffs and extending the $100,000 payment requirement for certain H-1B petitions.

Foreign nationals from treaty countries seeking to launch, buy, or actively run a U.S. business can explore the E-2 Treaty Investor visa, a flexible nonimmigrant option requiring substantial investment and active management. This comprehensive guide examines eligibility requirements, compares E-2 to EB-5 pathways, and outlines the application process from initial planning through visa issuance.

Over the past two weeks, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has transferred a large volume of pending EB-5-based Form I-485 adjustment of status applications from the California Service Center (CSC) to the Texas Service Center (TSC). Immediately following transfer, some applicants are receiving Requests for Evidence (RFEs) seeking Form I-693 medical examinations and providing 30 days to respond.

The September 2026 Visa Bulletin reveals critical changes for EB-5 investors, particularly those from India, as unreserved visa numbers become unavailable for the remainder of FY2026. While set-aside categories remain current across all countries, the bulletin warns of potential further retrogression and highlights the importance of understanding how country of chargeability and investment category selection impact visa availability and processing timelines.

Federal immigration law treats failure to satisfy vaccination requirements as a potential ground of inadmissibility for green card and immigrant visa applicants. Understanding how to properly document religious or moral objections to vaccination can determine whether a waiver is available and how USCIS evaluates the request.

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has announced that it will expand its online presence review requirements to additional nonimmigrant visa applicants beginning Oct. 1, 2026.

The Trump administration announced two additional significant actions affecting the H-1B program late last week, increasing scrutiny of employers that have conducted or are planning layoffs and extending the $100,000 payment requirement for certain H-1B petitions.