Key Takeaway On December 23, 2025, a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia upheld a presidential proclamation requiring employers to submit a $100,000 fee before certain new H-1B petitions will be processed. The court concluded the proclamation is a lawful exercise of broad presidential authority granted under the Immigration […]
Key Takeaways for Employers DHS has issued a final rule changing how USCIS selects H-1B cap registrations in years when demand exceeds the statutory limit. Instead of a purely random lottery, USCIS will implement a wage-based weighted selection system that increases selection odds for registrations tied to higher wage offers. DHS states the rule will […]
On December 16, 2025, the White House issued a Presidential Proclamation expanding U.S. travel restrictions on foreign nationals from twenty additional countries. The Administration cites national security, visa overstay data, deficient security vetting systems, and lack of cooperation with U.S. immigration enforcement as the grounds for the changes. Several of the countries also offer Citizenship […]
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the establishment of a new USCIS Vetting Center, a centralized unit designed to expand the agency’s screening and fraud-detection capabilities across the immigration system. The new center will be headquartered in Atlanta and will serve as a dedicated hub for enhanced national security and public safety reviews. […]
What Travelers and Employers Need to Know U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has published a notice outlining several important updates to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) process used for admission to the U.S. as tourists or business visitors through the Visa Waiver Program. These changes reflect CBP’s ongoing efforts to improve identity […]
The $100K H-1B Fee and the Value of Joining the U.S. Chamber of Commerce As previously reported, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is currently seeking to enjoin the Administration’s illegal H-1B $100,000 fee. For clients and others impacted by the illegal H-1B fee who are not currently members of the Chamber, we believe it is […]
Heightened National Security Screening Measures Implemented Across Federal Immigration Agencies In the wake of recent national security concerns—including the tragic shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.—the federal government has issued sweeping new immigration restrictions and expanded vetting procedures that will significantly impact both immigrants and U.S. employers. Multiple agencies, including the Department […]
USCIS Significantly Reduces EAD Validity Periods: What Employers Need to Know USCIS has announced major changes to Employment Authorization Document (EAD) validity periods, rolling back many categories to much shorter approval durations. These changes, combined with the recently published rule eliminating the 540-day automatic extension for most EAD categories, represent a substantial tightening of the […]
As we close out an unprecedented year in immigration, our December webinar explored the most significant policy changes of 2025 and what employers should prepare for in 2026. From proposed H-1B reforms to evolving student pathways, green card restructuring, and heightened enforcement activity, this recap highlights the key insights shared by Matthew Hellrung and Senior […]