On Friday, July 17, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the agency had received enough H-1B cap petitions to meet both the H-1B regular cap allotment of 65,000 numbers and the H-1B U.S. advanced degree exemption (“master’s cap”) allotment of 20,000 numbers for the federal government’s fiscal year 2027, […]
Visa Bulletin – August 2026 Limited Forward Movement Continues
21 Jul
by Foster, on Immigration Updates
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has published the monthly Visa Bulletin for August 2026. Until August 1, the July 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 […]
A Major Shift in U.S. Student Visa Policy: DHS Ends Duration of Status
17 Jul
by Foster, on Immigration Updates
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has finalized a major change to the U.S. immigration system by replacing the longstanding “Duration of Status” (D/S) framework with a fixed period of admission for many foreign students, exchange visitors, and media representatives. The final rule, titled Establishing a Fixed Time Period of […]
Form I-9 Reminder: Use the Version Expiring May 31, 2027 When completing Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, employers must use the correct version of the form. As we approach August 2026, employers are reminded to use the appropriate version with the expiration date of May 31, 2027, not July 31, […]