Posts
Notes and updates on immigration law.
I-601 Waiver Approved After 6+ Years of Separation – 10-Year Bar Case
We are pleased to announce the approval of an I-601 waiver (Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility) for a client who had been subject to the 10-year unlawful presence bar. At the time of approval: This case highlights how extreme hardship can develop and intensify over time — and how strategic presentation of evidence…
USCIS Releases Form I-140G: Comprehensive Guide to the Gold Card Program, Source of Funds, and Path of Funds Requirements
USCIS has officially released Form I-140G, the immigrant petition for the new Gold Card Program established by Executive Order 14351. The form and instructions provide the first complete look at eligibility criteria, financial requirements, and extensive due-diligence obligations that applicants must satisfy. While public attention has focused on the program’s financial gift thresholds, the more…
USCIS Implements New National Security Holds and Expanded Vetting for Nationals of “High-Risk Countries”
USCIS has announced a significant shift in its security and vetting procedures following Presidential Proclamation 10949 and recent national-security incidents. These changes include broad adjudication holds, mandatory interviews, and a comprehensive re-review of pending and previously approved cases involving nationals of 19 “high-risk countries.” The new requirements are outlined in USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0192, issued…
DOL Launches First-Ever H-1B Compliance Investigations
From Reactive to Proactive Enforcement On September 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced Project Firewall, a new enforcement initiative under which the agency will actively investigate employers for compliance with H-1B program requirements. Historically, H-1B investigations were generally reactive — meaning the DOL typically opened reviews only after a worker filed a…
Update: $100,000 H-1B Proclamation – Effective September 21, 2025
On September 21, 2025, a presidential proclamation introduced a $100,000 supplemental payment requirement for certain new H-1B filings and restricted entry for some H-1B nonimmigrants. USCIS has now issued guidance clarifying how the rule applies in practice. Below is a summary focusing on which H-1B cases are affected and which are not. What the Rule…
PERM + PWD Processing Times Update – Fall 2025
As of September 2025, PERM Labor Certification processing continues to show modest improvement. Employers and foreign workers should still prepare for a multi-stage timeline—but signs point to sub-15-month adjudication times returning soon, based on both Department of Labor (DOL) disclosures and real-world tracking from our clients. Current PERM Processing According to DOL’s official processing times:…
Baltimore Field Office Appears to Fast-Track Recent Family-Based I-485 Filings
We’re continuing to see surprisingly fast processing times for family-based adjustment of status applications—at least from the Baltimore Field Office. On May 8, 2025, we shared that I-130/I-485 packages filed in March 2025 for the parents of a U.S. citizen had already been scheduled for an interview. At the time, this seemed like a rare…
USCIS H-1B RFEs Citing “Adverse Information” – What Employers Should Know
Our office has observed a trend in H-1B petition adjudications: USCIS is issuing Requests for Evidence (RFEs) that vaguely reference “adverse information” related to the foreign national employee—without specifying what that information is. In several recent cases, these RFEs have included standard requests such as updated addresses or other basic documentation. At the same time,…
Should You Delay Filing Your Marriage-Based Green Card to Get a 10-Year Green Card?
1. Immigration Policy Can Change Suddenly In today’s climate, USCIS policies and reviewing standards are anything but stable. What’s acceptable today may face more scrutiny tomorrow. Delaying your filing now might mean facing a very different and potentially more difficult adjudication environment down the road. 2. You May Miss Out on Work Authorization—and Travel Flexibility…
H-1B Processing Time 2025
As we enter 2025, we continue to track processing times for H-1B petitions filed under regular (non-premium) processing. While wait times remain a significant factor for employers and employees, recent sample cases handled by our firm show a general range of 5 to 10 months, depending on the service center. H-4s filed together with H-1Bs…