Policy Updates
Immigration policy changes from the Federal Register, explained in plain language.
USCIS Can Now Reject Your Petition Later If It Lacks a Valid Signature
Starting July 10, 2026, USCIS has new authority to reject or deny any immigration benefit request — even one it already accepted — if it later finds the signature is missing or invalid. This interim final rule closes a gap that let unsigned petitions slip through intake. If you've filed recently or plan to file, double-checking your signature could save your case.
Argentina's Tech Brain Drain Meets a Closed Door: How the New H-1B Landscape Prices Out Candidates Recruited From Abroad
Argentine tech workers and AI researchers are leaving the country in growing numbers as Milei's austerity guts public research funding. But the U.S. H-1B pathway they once relied on has become functionally inaccessible: the $100,000 fee targets workers hired from outside the U.S., and the new wage-weighted lottery favors candidates already in the country. The practical result is a closed loop that benefits neither Argentine talent nor American employers trying to recruit them.
White House Nominates Mullin as DHS Secretary — What It Means for Visa Holders
The White House has sent Markwayne Mullin's nomination as Secretary of Homeland Security to the Senate for confirmation. As DHS oversees USCIS and immigration enforcement, a new secretary could shape H-1B, F-1, and other visa policies. Here's what immigration-watchers should know.
USCIS Raising Premium Processing Fees on March 1 — What H-1B Filers Must Know
USCIS is hiking its premium processing fees starting March 1, 2026, driven by two years of inflation. If you're planning to file for expedited processing of an H-1B or other employment-based petition, anything postmarked on or after March 1 must include the new, higher fee — or it could be rejected.
USCIS Raises Premium Processing Fees March 1, 2026 to Keep Pace with Inflation
USCIS is increasing its premium processing fees effective March 1, 2026, adjusting for inflation from June 2023 through June 2025. The fee hike follows a congressionally mandated biennial adjustment tied to the Consumer Price Index. Anyone filing Form I-907 on or after March 1 must use the new, higher fees.