News
Expanded Screening and Vetting for TN and TD Visa Applicants
September 23, 2026
Effective October 1st, all applications for those seeking the TN and TD visa will have their online presence screened as part of the application process per the Department of State announcement on September 18th. Applicants will need to modify their privacy settings on all social media platforms to make them public. This will be required […]
Proposed Rule to Eliminate the 60-day Discretionary Grace Period
September 15, 2026
On September 11, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a proposed rule titled “Eliminating the Discretionary 60-Day Grace Period.” This proposed rule would remove the discretionary grace period of up to 60 days following the employment separation that occurs prior to the individual’s approved period of immigration status. Those employment visa categories, […]
USCIS Updates Forms I-539 and I-765 Effective September 15, 2026
August 14, 2026
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will introduce new editions of Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) and Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) effective September 15, 2026. The updated forms are part of USCIS implementation of the Final Rule-Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for F […]
Duration of Status (D/S) Rule Change Summary That Takes Effect September 15, 2026
August 12, 2026
This summary is based on our initial review and analysis by the Office of International Services of the Department of Homeland Security’s final rule, “Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media,” which was published on July 17, 2026. Since the […]
Expanded Screening and Vetting for H-1B and H-4 Visa Applicants
December 8, 2025
Effective December 15th, all applications for those seeking the H-1B and H-4 visa will have their online presence screened as part of the application process per the Department of State announcement on December 3rd. Applicants will need to modify their privacy settings on all social media platforms to make them public. This will be required […]
Department of State Update on Visa Interview Appointments
September 16, 2025
The U.S. Department of State made a recent update on adjudicating nonimmigrant visa applicants. Effective September 6, 2025, all nonimmigrant visa applicants will be required to schedule their visa interviews in their country of nationality or residence. Applicants will need to prove residence in the application process. For those applicants of countries that do not […]
Interview Visa Waiver Update
September 3, 2025
The Department of State has updated the categories of applicants that may be eligible for a waiver of the nonimmigrant visa interview (also called the Dropbox). Effective September 2nd, all visa holders except those noted in the DOS update must now attend an in-person consular interview for visa renewal. These groups of visa holders will […]
Update on Visa Reciprocity
August 6, 2025
The U.S. Department of State updated its visa reciprocity agreements on July 8, 2025. There have been some changes, but not to all countries. Some countries now reflect shorter validity periods for visa issuance and are for single use only. If you have already been issued your visa for your current immigration status on or […]
Alien Registration Requirement
March 17, 2025
USCIS will require nonimmigrants to comply with the new alien registration form and evidence of registration requirement by April 11, 2025. While most of our international visitors are already registered, this new requirement will impact dependents. If a dependent (i.e., F-2, J-2, H-4) will be turning 14 years of age, then they will need to […]
Interview Visa Waiver Update
March 16, 2025
There has been a recent update to the eligibility for the interview visa waiver (also referred to as Dropbox). The Department of State announced on February 18, 2025, that it will return to the 12 month Dropbox eligibility from 48 months. Previously, if the prior visa expired within the last 48 months, then one would […]