U.S. Citizenship Through Naturalization in 2026: Eligibility, the N-400 Process, and What Applicants Must Know
Naturalization is the legal process through which an eligible lawful permanent resident becomes a U.S. citizen. In 2026, applicants must satisfy statutory eligibility requirements, complete Form N-400 accurately, pass the required English and civics examinations, and demonstrate good moral character. USCIS has also implemented important procedural changes. These include the 2025 civics test, reinstated neighborhood […]
October 2026 Visa Bulletin: What Family and Employment-Based Green Card Applicants Should Expect for FY2027
As of September 13, 2026, the U.S. Department of State has not released the official October 2026 Visa Bulletin. The bulletin is expected in mid-September and will provide the first immigrant visa availability dates for fiscal year 2027, which begins on October 1, 2026. October is significant because new annual visa number allocations become available […]
New Public Charge Rule Effective September 18, 2026: What Green Card Applicants and Sponsors Must Know
The Department of Homeland Security’s final rule rescinding the 2022 public charge regulations takes effect on September 18, 2026. The rule changes how USCIS evaluates whether an applicant for adjustment of status is likely to become a public charge under INA § 212(a)(4). The new framework gives officers broader discretion. Officers may consider a wider […]
DHS Proposes to Eliminate the 60-Day Grace Period for H-1B, L-1, O-1, E, and TN Workers: What Employers and Foreign Workers Must Know
On September 11, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled “Eliminating the Discretionary 60-Day Grace Period”. The proposal appears in Federal Register Volume 91, No. 175, at 91 FR 57807, under DHS Docket No. USCIS-2026-0364 and RIN 1615-AD22. Secretary Markwayne Mullin signed the proposal. If finalized as […]
DHS Ends “Duration of Status” on September 15, 2026: New Fixed Admission Rules for F-1, J-1, and I Nonimmigrants : What Employers and Institutions Must Do Now
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will replace “duration of status” (D/S) admissions with fixed periods of admission for F-1 academic students, J-1 exchange visitors, and I foreign media representatives. The final rule, “Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives […]
VAWA Self-Petitions in 2026: New USCIS Residency and Evidence Rules Survivors Must Know
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) changed its guidance for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitions on December 22, 2025. The update appears in Policy Alert PA-2025-33 and revises Volume 3, Part D of the USCIS Policy Manual. The update applies to all VAWA Form I-360 self-petitions filed on or after December 22, 2025, as […]
I-9 Compliance Best Practices for U.S. Employers in 2026
Form I-9 compliance remains a central workforce compliance obligation for U.S. employers in 2026. Every covered employer must verify the identity and employment authorization of employees hired in the United States after November 6, 1986. Failure to complete, retain, or produce Form I-9 records can result in civil penalties and additional enforcement consequences. Employers should […]
USCIS Revokes H-1B Petitions Over Wage Misclassification in 2026: What Employers and Foreign Workers Must Know
USCIS Targets Low Wage Classifications in H-1B Technology Cases On September 4–5, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an enforcement action involving H-1B petitions reviewed by the Vermont Service Center. USCIS identified petitions submitted by a major, unnamed IT consulting company in which skilled technology positions were classified at wage levels below what […]
I-9 Compliance for U.S. Employers: A 2026 Guide to Form I-9, E-Verify, and Workforce Compliance
Form I-9 compliance is a mandatory component of workforce compliance for nearly every U.S. employer. Employers must verify the identity and employment authorization of each person hired for employment in the United States, including U.S. citizens and foreign nationals. A work visa for foreign employees does not replace Form I-9. The visa, immigration status, or […]
Matter of Delcarmen-Lara: Advance Parole Travel Now Triggers 3- and 10-Year Bars : What DACA, TPS, and Other Noncitizens Must Know
On August 13, 2026, the Board of Immigration Appeals issued Matter of Delcarmen-Lara, 29 I&N Dec. 830 (BIA 2026). The decision overruled Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly, 25 I&N Dec. 771 (BIA 2012). The BIA held that a person who leaves the United States under a grant of advance parole makes a “departure” for purposes […]
