September 2025 » ImmigrationUSA

government shutdown

What to Expect from a Government Shutdown

The potential government shutdown is due to a lack of agreement on budgeting in Congress. The government shutdown begins at 12:01 am October 1, 2025 if there’s no agreement on budgeting. Below is a brief overview of how a government shutdown impacts immigration-related services, specifically visa processing. Impact on Immigration

September 30, 2025

DHS

H-1B Lottery Modification Proposed by DHS

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a proposal to change the H-1B lottery, effective with the FY2027 selection. Higher wage level applicants get more chances of selection. The new system is noted with an active date of October 24, 2025. The new system uses the Department of Labor (DOL)’s

September 29, 2025

Employment Based Visa

Frequently Asked Questions About the New H-1B Application Fee

A new presidential proclamation titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” imposes a $100,000 H1-B application fee for all “H-1B New” petitions. The order, effective September 21, 2025, mainly applies to prospective H-1B applicants. The new H-1B application fee will primarily impact the FY2027 lottery and potentially H-1B cap

September 25, 2025

visa fees

Gold Card Visa Program Now Available

The Gold Card visa program offers access to immigrant visas to individuals who make significant financial contributions to the U.S. government. The new visa requires a $1,000,000 payment per individual. The visa, announced in September 2025 through President Trump’s executive order, targets high income individuals willing and able to pay

September 25, 2025

H-1B

Importance of Filing H-1B Petitions Before Wage Increases

On September 19, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on all new H-1B petitions. The announcement caused confusion and uncertainty, as the White House initially gave conflicting statements. Ultimately, the White House published updated FAQ, further amending their initial announcement. The immigration agencies, including USCIS and

September 23, 2025

DHS

Foreign Students Ruling Stayed by Appeals Court

Two foreign students facing removal won’t be detained until further notice, per a Second Circuit Appeals Court Decision. The students were initially detained due to their participation in protests on different college campuses in the summer of 2024. The decision came after the government tried to detain them. The students

September 22, 2025

DHS

Government to Impose New H-1B Application Fee

The government enacted a new H-1B application fee in a bid to encourage the hiring of American workers effective September 21, 2025. Employers petitioning for H-1B specialty occupation workers who reside outside the United States must pay an additional $100,000 fee per petition unless given an exemption by the Department of

September 20, 2025

Citizenship

U.S. Citizenship Test Changes Announced

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the launch of the revised 2025 naturalization civics test in the federal register. The updated exam will evaluate applicants’ knowledge of U.S. history and government, in compliance with legal requirements. The new test is part of a broader initiative to reinforce the integrity

September 18, 2025

ICE

Immigration Enforcement Policies Promoting Family Separations

Increasingly strict immigration enforcement is increasing the number of family separations for families of mixed legal status. Parents facing removal can leave their children behind or bring them along. An estimated four hundred children are residing in shelters run by the Office Refugee Resettlement as of September 2025. Until recently,

September 18, 2025

DOJ

Immigration Judge Vacancies Being Filled by Military Lawyers

Military lawyers are filling the vacancies left by terminated immigration judges, per a new Pentagon initiative. The move will allocate six hundred military attorneys to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to help reduce the backlog in immigration courts. The military lawyers will be under the direct control of the Attorney

September 18, 2025