Immigration news and expert analysis

Who Is Eligible to Adjust Status to Lawful Permanent Residence — and What Are the Bars?

The INA and other federal laws provide over forty different ways for aliens to adjust status to lawful permanent residence. Eligibility requirements vary by pathway. This article covers the full list of eligible immigrant categories, all statutory bars to adjustment, grounds of inadmissibility, requ

What Are the O-1 and P-1 Visa Options for Athletes and Coaches Who Want to Compete in the United States?

The United States offers specialized visa categories for athletes and coaches seeking to compete, coach, or perform at an internationally recognized level. This article covers the O-1A (extraordinary ability in athletics), P-1 (four subcategories of athletes and coaches), and B-1 visitor visa except

How Are H-4, E-1, E-2, E-3, and L-2 Dependent Spouses Authorized to Work in the United States?

As of November 12, 2021, USCIS considers certain E-1, E-2, E-3, and L-2 nonimmigrant dependent spouses employment authorized incident to status. This article covers the new E-1S, E-2S, E-3S, and L-2S COA codes, how I-94 notations serve as List C I-9 evidence, the supplemental notice process for pre-

The B-1/B-2 Visa Bond Pilot Program: What It Is, Who's Affected, and How It Works

The U.S. State Department launched a Visa Bond Pilot Program on August 20, 2025, requiring certain B-1/B-2 visitor visa applicants from designated countries to post a refundable bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance. The program is active right now and runs through August 5, 2026.

Nonimmigrant Pathways for STEM Employment in the United States

Nonimmigrant pathways allow STEM professionals to work in the United States temporarily for a specified period. They do not provide lawful permanent residence, but many STEM workers use these pathways as a bridge while pursuing permanent residence options. Each pathway covered below also permits you

Ten Common Mistakes in VAWA Petitions — and How to Avoid Them

A VAWA self-petition can fail not because the abuse didn't happen, but because of procedural errors, incomplete documentation, or unanticipated eligibility issues that a prepared filing would have addressed. Understanding the most common mistakes — and how to prevent each one — is the most direct wa

Family of Refugees and Asylees: How to Petition for Your Spouse and Children

If you entered the United States as a refugee within the past two years, or were granted asylee status within the past two years, you may petition for certain family members to obtain derivative refugee or asylee status using Form I-730. This article explains who can petition, which family members a

Immigrant Pathways for Entrepreneur Employment in the United States

Immigrant pathways provide entrepreneurs with lawful permanent resident status — a green card — that can eventually lead to US citizenship. The process involves at minimum two steps: an immigrant petition filed with USCIS, followed by adjustment of status (if inside the US) or consular processing (i

K-1 vs. CR-1 Visa: Which One Should You Apply For?

For U.S. citizens in international relationships, the choice between the K-1 fiancé visa and the CR-1 spouse visa is one of the most consequential early decisions in the immigration process — and one of the most frequently misunderstood. The K-1 can get your partner to the United States faster initi

H-1B Cap Season: Registration, Weighted Selection, and Filing Requirements

Getting into the H-1B cap requires navigating a multi-step process: electronic registration during a narrow window, a weighted lottery if demand exceeds supply, then a carefully structured I-129 petition that must precisely match the registration. Get any piece wrong and the petition can be rejected