On June 5, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued a decision striking down several USCIS policies that had paused or restricted the adjudication of immigration benefit applications for individuals from certain countries subject to recent travel restrictions. In the 135-page decision, the court ruled that the challenged USCIS policies violated […]
Today, a federal district court has vacated the Trump administration’s controversial policy imposing a $100,000 fee on new H‑1B visa petitions, delivering the possibility of significant relief to U.S. employers that rely on high‑skilled foreign talent. Background In September 2025, the Trump administration introduced a presidential proclamation imposing a dramatic increase in the cost of new H‑1B petitions with a $100,000 fee per petition. The measure was intended to […]
New USCIS Memorandum Signals Potential Shift in Adjustment of Status Adjudications
22 May
by Foster, on Immigration Updates
On May 21, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a new policy memorandum (PM-602-0199) stating that adjustment of status (AOS) is a discretionary form of relief and should be viewed as an “extraordinary” benefit rather than a routine pathway to permanent residence. Background As a matter of law, even when an applicant meets all statutory eligibility […]
Visa Bulletin – June 2026 Limited Movement with Notable Retrogression for India in EB‑1 and EB‑2
15 May
by Foster, on Immigration Updates
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has published the monthly Visa Bulletin for June 2026. Until June 1, the May 2026 Visa Bulletin remains in effect. The Visa Bulletin contains the DOS’s Final Action Dates chart, which lists the priority dates that are current in each respective category, the categories that are current during the applicable month (i.e., categories that do not have any […]