January 2026 » ImmigrationUSA

Employment Based Visa

EB-1A Visa Final Merit Limits Changed

The EB-1A category has become a release valve for an immigration system under mounting stress. As constraints within the H-1B program have intensified, more professionals have turned to extraordinary ability petitions as a self-sponsored alternative promising speed and predictability. Filing volumes have climbed steadily, with growth concentrated among applicants already

January 30, 2026

EB-1

EB-1A Visa Filings Surge as H-1B Pressure Intensifies

Recent data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) shows a sharp rise in EB-1A extraordinary ability petitions, now exceeding roughly seven thousand five hundred filings per quarter. That volume is nearly triple what it was just four years ago. The spike closely tracks growing frustration with the H-1B program,

January 29, 2026

ICE

ICE Director Ordered to Appear in Court

A federal judge in Minnesota ordered the acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director to personally appear in court regarding the agency’s handling of hearings for detainees. Additionally, the court will hold the ICE director in contempt of court if they don’t appear. The move comes after ICE’s intense immigration

January 29, 2026

Employment Based Immigration

Impact of a Government Shutdown on Immigration Services

The government faces a potential shutdown if they don’t pass additional funding for multiple agencies by January 30, 2026. This comes just two and a half months after the previous shutdown ended. Another shutdown would greatly impact employment-based immigration services. Here’s what employers and foreign workers should expect from immigration

January 29, 2026

DHS

Family Reunification Program Termination Blocked

A federal judge blocked the government’s termination of the family reunification program. The move would’ve ended the legal status of more than eight thousand individuals living in the U.S. The judge explained that individuals who entered the U.S. under the family reunification program were legal residents and properly vetted prior

January 28, 2026

family-based immigration

Omission of Family Immigration Information Grounds for Application Denial

The Third Circuit Court issued a ruling that omission of family immigration information is grounds for denial of an individual’s application, especially if said information is relevant to the immigration review process. A recent Third Circuit decision confirms a strict rule in U.S. immigration law. Any material information left out

January 27, 2026

Board of Immigration Appeals

BIA Ruling Reinforces Good Moral Character Requirement

The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) recently overturned an immigration judge’s (IJ) decision granting a Mexican national’s cancellation of removal request. The BIA explained that the appellee didn’t demonstrate a good moral character. The ruling reinforces the importance of the Good Moral Character requirement. Initially, the appellee filed for a

January 26, 2026

USCIS

USCIS Processing Facilities Closed Due to Extreme Weather

Multiple U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processing facilities across the Midwest due to hazardous weather conditions. The closures affect field offices and application centers in multiple cities. It’s unclear when exactly will reopen due to extraordinary circumstances behind their closure. Affected Locations The wind chill in certain areas of

January 26, 2026

CBP Home app

CBP Home App Offers Reward for Voluntary Removal

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new stipend for undocumented individuals that voluntary leave the U.S. Individuals that register their departure via the Customs and Bord Protection (CBP) Home App will receive a payment of two-thousand and six-hundred dollars. Additionally, individuals that voluntarily depart the United States will

January 22, 2026

DHS

Immigration Detention Facilities Require Notice Before Congressional Visit

A federal judge refused to block a new policy by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requiring members of Congress to notify immigration detention facilities of their intention to visit at least one week prior. The judge explained the DHS didn’t violate any earlier court order when it reimposed the

January 22, 2026