Articles Posted in Embassies

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The new USCIS memo is finally showing its true colors.

Imagine coming to the U.S. legally, spending years doing everything right, and finally applying for your green card—only to be denied at the interview. Not because you are ineligible, but because a USCIS officer used the new USCIS memo to deny your case as a matter of discretion.

That’s exactly what happened in Michael’s case.

Real-Life Example: Green Card Denied Under the New USCIS Memo

Michael came to the United States legally 15 years ago on an F-1 student visa. Like many international students, he had plans to study, build a future, and follow the rules.

But life got difficult. Due to financial hardship and mental health struggles, Michael was unable to finish school. As a result, he fell out of F-1 status. To survive, he worked for a short period without authorization.

Years later, Michael married a U.S. citizen and applied for his green card through marriage.

At his green card interview, USCIS did not question whether their marriage was real. The problem was something else.

The officer told Michael that his green card would be denied under the new USCIS memo—not because he lacked eligibility through marriage, but because of the officer’s discretionary review of his past immigration violations. Continue reading

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently announced that it will lift holds on the adjudication of green cards and other immigration-benefit requests for a select group of individuals.

As part of these exemptions, USCIS has lifted holds on some family petitions filed by U.S. citizens, intercountry adoptions, rescheduled naturalization oath ceremonies, asylum applications from lower-risk countries, work authorization requests, special immigrant visas, refugee registrations for South African nationals, applications associated with medical physicians, and cases that completed enhanced security vetting through Operation PARRIS.

This means that nationals who were previously subject to the “75-country pause” are no longer affected by the suspension and may resume normal processing of their immigration applications if they fall within one of the above categories.

Unfortunately, if you do not fall within one of the exempted categories, the adjudication of your green card and immigrant visa application will remain on hold.

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Are you applying for an immigrant visa and want to know when your priority date will become current? Then you won’t want to miss our analysis of the April 2026 Visa Bulletin.

In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains what you can expect to see in terms of the movement of the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories next month.

USCIS Adjustment of Status

For adjustment of status filings to permanent residence in the month of April, USCIS will continue using the Dates for Filing Chart for the employment-based and family-sponsored categories.

Highlights of the April 2026 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of April?

Employment-Based Categories

Final Action Advancements

EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives

  • EB-1 India and China will advance one month to April 1, 2023
  • All other countries will remain current

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

  • EB-2 India will advance 10 months to July 15, 2014
  • Except China, all other countries (Worldwide, Mexico, Philippines) will become current

*Note, there is an immigrant visa freeze for all countries subject to the 75-country ban on immigrant visa issuance. Lawsuits opposing the freeze are currently pending. 

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Rising tensions in the Middle East amid the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran have triggered a collapse in regional air travel. Widespread airspace closures, airport shutdowns, and thousands of canceled flights have stranded travelers across major transit hubs such as Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.

Among those caught in the disruption are thousands of green card holders and visa holders who left the United States temporarily and are now unable to return as flights remain suspended and regional travel remains restricted.

In this video, we discuss key steps the State Department recommends for permanent residents and other noncitizens currently stranded in the region.

75-Country Ban on Immigrant Visa Issuance

As a reminder, the Trump administration imposed an indefinite pause on immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries beginning January 21, 2026. Due to the pause, the State Department has suspended the issuance of all immigrant visas while it develops new procedures to assess whether applicants may become financially dependent on the U.S. government under the public charge standard.

  • Impact: While U.S. consulates may continue accepting applications and conducting interviews, they are currently unable to issue or print immigrant visas, including family- and employment-based green cards, for affected applicants until the new policy is implemented. This further complicates travel for immigrants residing in the Middle East, including Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, and Yemen.

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On January 14, 2026, the State Department announced it is pausing the issuance of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, effective January 21, 2026, while it develops a new process to assess whether applicants may become a “public charge” (financially dependent on the U.S. government).

Applicants can still apply and attend interviews, but no immigrant visas will not be issued during the pause. The policy affects family-sponsored and employment-based green cards, though dual nationals applying with a passport from a country not on the list are exempt from the suspension.

The policy change focuses on the statutory “public charge” ground of inadmissibility, which allows visa refusal in the event an applicant is found likely to depend on the U.S. government for financial assistance. Consular officers are permitted to consider factors such as an applicant’s health, age, education, employment prospects, and financial stability when evaluating if they are a public charge risk.

It is unclear how long the suspension will last or how the public charge review process will ultimately change.

Immigrant visa applicants from the affected countries should monitor communications from the State Department and prepare for potential delays in visa issuance.

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Are you applying for an immigrant visa and want to know when your priority date will become current? Then you won’t want to miss our analysis of the February 2026 Visa Bulletin.

In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains what you can expect to see in terms of the movement of the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories in the new year.

USCIS Adjustment of Status

For adjustment of status filings to permanent residence in the month of February, USCIS will be using the Dates for Filing Chart for the employment-based and family-sponsored categories.

Highlights of the February 2026 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of February?

Employment-Based Categories

Final Action Advancements

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

  • Except India and China, all countries will advance by 5.7 weeks to June 1, 2023

Dates for Filing Advancements

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

  • Except India and China, all other countries will advance by 3 months to October 1, 2023

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In the wake of a deadly shooting at Brown University, the Trump administration has suspended the U.S. Diversity Immigrant Visa program — better known as the Green Card Lottery — after learning the suspected shooter entered the country using the program.

The decision, announced by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, pauses the annual green card lottery which offered up to 50,000 visas to applicants from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States.

What does this mean for people who planned to apply for the Green Card Lottery this year?

Electronic registrations for the fiscal year 2027 Green Card lottery are suspended until further notice.

During the pause, the government will enhance security vetting of applicants including conducting national security checks against terrorism databases, assessing public safety risks, and verifying each applicant’s identity.

Why was the Green Card lottery created?

The Green Card lottery was established by Congress in 1990 and officially began in 1995. Its purpose was to diversify the immigrant population by providing a legal pathway to permanent residency for individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the U.S.

Each year, the program made up to 50,000 immigrant visas available through a randomized selection process, aiming to promote broader geographic representation and reinforce America’s long-standing identity as a nation shaped by immigrants from around the world.

For many, the program represented a once-in-a-lifetime chance to pursue the American dream. Last year alone, more than 20 million people entered the lottery, highlighting the intense demand for these visas.

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Are you applying for an immigrant visa and want to know when your priority date will become current? Then you won’t want to miss our analysis of the December 2025 Visa Bulletin.

In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains what you can expect to see in terms of the movement of the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories in the month of December.

USCIS Adjustment of Status

For adjustment of status filings to permanent residence in the month of December, USCIS will be using the Dates for Filing Chart for the employment-based and family-sponsored categories.

Highlights of the December 2025 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of December?

Employment-Based Categories

Final Action Advancements

EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives

  • India will advance by one month to March 15, 2022
  • China will advance by one month to January 22, 2023
  • All other countries remain current

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

  • India will advance by six weeks to May 15, 2013
  • China will advance by two months to June 1, 2021
  • All other countries will advance by 2 months to February 1, 2024

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

  • India will advance by one month to September 22, 2013
  • China will advance by one month to April 1, 2021
  • All other countries will advance by two weeks to April 15, 2023

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The U.S. visa landscape is undergoing major changes in 2025, with embassy operations varying widely across the globe. New federal policies have made the visa process more challenging. From enhanced social media scrutiny to removing the option for third-country nationals to apply for visas outside their country of nationality or residence—things have been constantly changing at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide.

In this video, you’ll learn about:

  • New Limits on Third-Country National Visa Applications
  • Enhanced Social Media Vetting Policies
  • Visa Limitations for Certain Countries under Travel Ban
  • Health Conditions, Including Obesity, May Affect Visa Approval
  • Operational Status at Consulates and Embassies Worldwide: Is your Embassy fully open?

New Limits on Third-Country National Visa Applications

Immigrant Visa Applicants Must Apply in Country of Nationality or Residence

Effective November 1, 2025, the State Department will require all immigrant visa applicants—including Diversity Visa applicants—to interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy in their country of residence or nationality. Exceptions will be rare and limited to urgent humanitarian, medical, or foreign-policy–driven cases.

Same Policy Extends to Nonimmigrants

The State Department announced a similar policy for nonimmigrant visa applicants. Effective September 2025, applicants must apply in their country of residence or nationality, meaning they can no longer choose a more convenient embassy—such as those in Mexico or Canada—unless they live there or hold that nationality. Limited exceptions apply for certain categories, including A and G visas, and for urgent humanitarian or medical emergencies.

For applicants from countries with limited or no U.S. consular presence—such as Afghanistan, Belarus, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, and Zimbabwe—designated embassies will continue to serve as regional processing hubs.

Tip: Booking a visa interview outside your country of nationality or residence may lead to rejection and could negatively affect future applications. ESTAs can be cancelled for those with visa denials on record. Avoid this by applying at the proper Consulate in your country of nationality or residence.

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Are you applying for an immigrant visa and want to know when your priority date will become current? Then you won’t want to miss our analysis of the November 2025 Visa Bulletin.

In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains what you can expect to see in terms of the movement of the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories in the month of November.

USCIS Adjustment of Status

For adjustment of status filings to permanent residence in the month of November, USCIS will be using the Dates for Filing Chart for the employment-based and family-sponsored categories.

Highlights of the November 2025 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of November?

Employment-Based Categories

There are no changes to the Dates for Filing and Final Action charts for the employment-based categories when compared to the October Visa Bulletin.

Family-Sponsored Categories

Final Action Advancements

  • F2B Worldwide, China, and India will advance by 9 days to December 1, 2016
  • F3 Mexico will advance by 16 days to May 1, 2001

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