May 2026 » ImmigrationUSA

Green Card

Impacts of Adjustment in Status Application Changes

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) changed the adjustment of status rules on May 22, 2026. The new policy mandates individuals apply for a green card outside of the United States. According to the New York Times, the announcement caused confusion among green card applicants. Particularly affected are individuals married

May 28, 2026

DHS

Immigration Fraud Penalties Introduced

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new policy letting immigration authorities act against law firms participating in immigration fraud. Specifically, this new policy gives Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authority to pursue disciplinary actions against immigration law firms or attorneys that file false asylum claims in immigration court.

May 27, 2026

executive order

U.S. Government Encourages Citizenship Vetting by Banks

The U.S. government passed an executive order requiring citizenship vetting by American banks. The order is part of a larger effort protecting American financial institutions from fraud. It goes into effect on August 17, 2026. Order Details The executive order proposed the following policies: Banks must report the following activity

May 27, 2026

Adjustment of Status

Adjustment of Status Memo for Green Card Applicants

This is a first-take analysis of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199 issued on May 21, 2026. Immigration policy guidance of this nature frequently evolves as USCIS officers begin applying it in practice, and as the immigration bar, federal courts, and advocacy organizations respond with real-world

May 22, 2026

DHS

Government Request Immigrant Tax Records From IRS

The U.S. government increasingly relies on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for identifying undocumented immigrants through immigrant tax records. This is the second time U.S. immigration services collaborated with the IRS for immigration enforcement. According to the New York Times, the government wants access to the individual taxpayer identification number

May 21, 2026

Removal Notices

Individuals Subject to Third Country Removals Face Uncertain Future

Per the policy of Third Country Removals, multiple individuals were removed to countries other than their country of origin. One group of fifteen individuals was sent to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to AP, the removed individuals are kept under surveillance in a hotel.

May 21, 2026

Gold Card

Gold Card Visa Program Seeing Few Applicants

The gold card visa program is now seeing little applicants. Released in September 2025, the gold card visa gives beneficiaries a fast-tracked path to permanent residency. The visa requires a one-million-dollar fee and fifteen-thousand-dollar vetting fee. However, it offers no waiting times for applicants. According to the Washington Post, only

May 20, 2026

Immigration Forms

Impending Rule Change About Form Signatures

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued an interim rule on incorrect immigration form signatures. The interim final rule gives USCIS the authority to deny immigration forms filed with the wrong signature. The rule goes into effect on July 10, 2026. The final rule lets USCIS: Reject filings for immigration

May 19, 2026

Family-Based Visa

Visa Bulletin for June 2026

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the visa bulletin for June 2026. The Visa Bulletin provides an update on the availability of immigrant visas for both consular processing and adjustment of status applications for the month of June 2026. The bulletin includes both the Final Action Dates and the Dates for Filing

May 14, 2026

Asylum Seeker

Mandatory Detention Policy Facing SCOTUS Review

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) might soon review the U.S. government’s mandatory detention policy. This is mainly due to the split opinion appeals courts have on the issue. So far, three appeals courts struck down the policy while two upheld it. Implemented in a July 2025 memo,

May 13, 2026