Immigration news and expert analysis

The H-1B Electronic Registration Process: How It Works, FY 2027 Updates, and Integrity Rules

Before any H-1B cap-subject petition can be filed, the employer must electronically register each prospective beneficiary with USCIS and pay a $215 registration fee. Selection is not guaranteed — only registrants whose beneficiaries are selected may proceed to petition. USCIS opened the FY 2027 regi

Benefits and Responsibilities of Asylees After Being Granted Asylum in the United States

Being granted asylum comes with a range of important rights and benefits — including work authorization, access to federal assistance programs, the ability to petition for family, and a path to permanent residence. It also comes with specific legal responsibilities. This article covers everything you need to know about what happens after your asylum grant.

TPS Work Authorization Expires Tomorrow, July 10 — What Employers and Workers Must Do Today

TPS work authorization for workers from 7 countries expires tomorrow — July 10, 2026. No extension has been announced. The Supreme Court's June 25 ruling in Mullin v. Doe cleared the way for TPS terminations and replaced the prior July 1 placeholder with July 10. If you employ TPS workers from Burma, Ethiopia, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, or Yemen — or if you are one — the time to act is today, not tomorrow. Employers: update your I-9 records, identify affected workers, and do not terminate anyone before reverification is completed. Workers: speak to an immigration attorney today about…

H-1B Electronic Registration: Official Questions and Answers — with Practitioner Notes

The H-1B electronic registration process replaced the practice of submitting full petition packages to the lottery. But the registration form itself now requires more precision than ever — particularly around wage level selection, SOC codes, and passport information — because those choices feed dire

How Can a J-1 Exchange Visitor Change Status, Extend Their Stay, or Transfer Programs?

J-1 exchange visitors have specific and limited options for changing immigration status, extending their stay, and transferring between programs. The foreign residence requirement under INA §212(e) significantly restricts which status changes are available to J-1 holders who are subject to it. This

Why Independent Recommendation Letters Matter More Than Ever in EB-2 NIW Petitions

The old NIW letter strategy — more letters, more credentialed signatories — isn't working the way it used to. With NIW filings hitting 60,000+ in FY 2024, USCIS officers are pattern-matching faster than ever. A petition built on letters from co-authors, supervisors, and institutional colleagues signals one thing: recognition that hasn't left the applicant's immediate circle. That's a Prong 2 RFE waiting to happen. What actually works in 2026 is simpler: four to five genuinely independent experts who address the specific proposed endeavor by name, in their own voice, with a concrete argument f…

Who Qualifies for Adjustment of Status Under INA 245(i) — and How Does Grandfathering Work?

INA 245(i) provides a pathway for certain aliens who would otherwise be ineligible to adjust status — because they entered without inspection, violated status, or worked without authorization — to still obtain lawful permanent residence if they are the beneficiary of a qualifying immigrant visa peti

EB-2 NIW for Healthcare Workers: Building a Green Card Case on Clinical Impact, Not Publications

The EB-2 National Interest Waiver is often associated with scientists and researchers, leaving many skilled healthcare professionals wondering whether it is available to them. The answer is yes — and for clinical workers whose contributions are measured in patient outcomes and community health rathe

The USCIS Adjustment of Status Memo: What Actually Changed — and What Didn't

SCIS issued a memo in May 2026 reframing adjustment of status as "discretionary grace," not an automatic right — and the headlines panicked. Here's the reality. The memo doesn't change eligibility. It doesn't close the door. But it does require every I-485 applicant to affirmatively prove why their case deserves approval — not just that nothing works against them. If you have a pending case, don't withdraw it. If you haven't filed yet, file stronger than you would have a year ago.

State Department Updates FIFA PASS Guidance: Four Things That Changed

The State Department just updated its FIFA PASS guidance — and four things are now clearer. Family members can use your priority appointment. Selling your ticket after getting your visa doesn't cancel it. FIFA PASS only works at your home country's consulate. And the January 2026 immigrant visa pause has no effect on World Cup tourist visas. One thing hasn't changed: travel bans still apply. FIFA PASS doesn't override them.