Policy Updates

USCIS Revamps Green Card Form I-485 Starting Sept 18 — No Grace Period

USCIS is replacing the current Form I-485 on September 18, 2026, with no grace period — meaning applicants who send the wrong version get rejected outright. The biggest change is a revamped public charge section that strips out much of the explanatory guidance that previously lived inside the form instructions. If you're planning to file for adjustment of status, the edition you use could make or break your application.

NAFSA Leads Lawsuit to Block DHS Rule That Kills F-1 Duration of Status

A coalition of major higher education and labor organizations filed a federal lawsuit on August 18 challenging a DHS rule that would scrap the Duration of Status framework for international students. If the rule stands, F-1 students and exchange visitors would face fixed four-year admission windows and new extension requirements. The lawsuit argues DHS overstepped its authority and failed to follow proper rulemaking procedures.

USCIS Rewrites Public Charge Rules — What Green Card Applicants Must Know Now

USCIS has issued new guidance on the public charge ground of inadmissibility, effective September 18, 2026, following the rollback of a 2022 rule. AILA reported the update, which reshapes how officers evaluate whether applicants could become financially dependent on government benefits. If you're applying for a green card or adjustment of status, this change could affect your case.

Groups Sue DHS Over Rule That Would Cap F-1 Status at 4 Years

A major federal lawsuit filed in Massachusetts is challenging a new DHS final rule that would end the long-standing 'duration of status' system for international students. If the rule stands, F-1 and J visa holders would face a hard four-year stay limit — and uncertain extension requests — instead of staying through program completion. Universities, educators, and labor unions are fighting back in court.

F-1 Visa Rule Faces Court Challenge, New I-485 Form Drops Sept. 18 — What You Need to Know

A coalition of universities is suing to block a Trump administration rule that would end open-ended F-1 and J-1 status — and a September 15 deadline looms. Meanwhile, USCIS is rolling out a new green card application form with no grace period, and a major DOJ settlement is putting employers on notice about green card recruitment practices. Boundless Immigration rounded up the week's biggest moves so you can stay ahead.

DHS Creates C-4 and D-3 Visas for Lightering Crewmen — Up to 180 Days Allowed

Foreign sailors who transfer liquid cargo between ships — a process called lightering — have long been stuck in a legal gray zone, relying on case-by-case exceptions to enter US waters. That changes now: DHS has finalized rules creating two new visa categories giving qualifying crewmen up to 180 days of authorized stay. Here's what the new C-4 and D-3 classifications mean.

USCIS Now Has Power to Force E-Filing — What Every Visa Applicant Must Know

USCIS just gained sweeping authority to mandate electronic filing for immigration benefit requests, moving away from paper applications for good. Starting immediately, USCIS can require e-filing for any form that's been available online for at least 180 days — which covers most major forms right now. If you file paper today, you may soon have no choice but to go digital.

2 reports · One policy timeline

DHS Expands 9-11 Biometric Fee to All H-1B & L-1 Extensions Starting Sept 9

Starting September 9, 2026, employers filing H-1B or L-1 extension petitions will owe an additional $4,500 (H-1B) or $4,000 (L-1) fee — even if the worker is staying with the same employer. DHS is correcting its decade-long misreading of the law, and the cost hits employers who were previously exempt from this fee on same-employer renewals. If your company sponsors H-1B or L-1 workers, your renewal budget is about to change.

USCIS Now Has Power to Force Online Filing — What H-1B and F-1 Filers Must Know

USCIS just gained the authority to mandate electronic filing for any immigration form that's been online-eligible for at least 6 months — and paper submissions could soon be off the table. The rule took effect August 11, 2026, with a 60-day public notice required before any specific form goes mandatory. If you file immigration paperwork of any kind, your process is about to change.

White House Narrows Birthright Citizenship — What It Means for Visa Holders Having Kids in the US

President Trump signed a new executive order on August 6, 2026, restricting birthright citizenship for children born in the US to certain categories of foreign nationals. Building on a June 2026 Supreme Court ruling, the order targets children of foreign government employees, designated terrorists, and parents who paid for 'birth tourism.' If you're an H-1B or F-1 visa holder, here's what you need to know.

White House Orders Visa Revocations and Bans for Pregnant Travelers — What Nonimmigrant Visitors Must Know

President Trump signed an executive order targeting 'birth tourism' — the practice of traveling to the US on a nonimmigrant visa specifically to give birth. The order empowers DHS and the State Department to deny visas, revoke existing authorizations, and permanently bar foreign nationals deemed to be entering for this purpose. If you're a pregnant nonimmigrant traveler or planning to visit the US while pregnant, this order could directly affect your visa application or entry.

USCIS Can Now Deny Your Application Without Asking for More Evidence

Starting August 5, 2026, USCIS officers can reject incomplete or ineligible immigration applications outright — without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID). This is a major shift from Biden-era policy and raises the stakes for anyone filing a benefit request. One missing document could now mean an instant denial instead of a second chance.