Articles Posted in Temporary visas

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The U.S. government has announced major changes affecting certain foreign nationals who were previously admitted for “duration of status,” commonly listed as “D/S” on Form I-94. Instead of remaining in the United States for the duration of their authorized program or activity, affected individuals will be admitted for a fixed period of time, generally limited to four years.

The new rule will affect individuals currently in the United States, as well as those preparing to enter under the following visa classifications:

  • F visa holders: International students and their dependents;
  • J visa holders: Exchange visitors and their dependents; and
  • I visa holders: Representatives of foreign information media and their dependents.

These changes may also affect how long individuals can remain in the United States and, for international students, their ability to pursue employment authorization after graduation. The rule is scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026.

Old Rule

Under the previous rule, F, J, and I visa holders were generally admitted to the United States without a specific departure date on Form I-94. Instead, their Form I-94 displayed “D/S,” which stands for “Duration of Status.”

This allowed them to remain in the United States for as long as they continued to follow the requirements of their visa category. For example, an F-1 student could remain while maintaining a full course of study, and a J-1 exchange visitor could remain while participating in an authorized exchange program.

For students, duration of status could also include authorized practical training and any applicable grace period after completing their program. However, D/S did not allow someone to remain in the United States indefinitely. A person who failed to maintain status could lose their authorization to stay.

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The U.S. Department of State has launched a temporary program that allows certain business visitors and tourist visa applicants to pay an additional $750 for a faster U.S. visa interview appointment at select Embassies and Consulates.

The program began on July 1, 2026, and is scheduled to remain in effect through December 31, 2026.

Who Can Use the Program?

The expedited option is limited to applicants seeking:

  • B-1 visas for temporary business travel;
  • B-2 visas for tourism or personal visits; or
  • Combined B-1/B-2 visas.

It is available only at selected U.S. embassies and consulates and only when expedited appointments are available.

What Does the $750 Fee Provide?

Applicants who use the service may schedule an interview within 10 business days after paying the expedited appointment fee.

However, the $750 is charged in addition to the standard $185 visitor visa application fee, bringing the total cost to $935.

To request the faster appointment, an applicant must first:

  • Submit Form DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application
  • Pay the standard visa application fee
  • Schedule a regular interview appointment and
  • Select and pay for an available expedited appointment.

Unlike traditional emergency appointment requests, applicants do not need to provide a written explanation showing urgent travel.

Does Paying $750 Guarantee a Visa?

No. The fee only provides access to an earlier B-1/B-2 visa interview appointment.

Applicants must still complete the regular interview, security checks, and eligibility review. The service does not speed up administrative processing and does not guarantee that a visa will be approved.

Expedited appointments are limited, so paying applicants are not guaranteed that an appointment will be available. Applicants who cancel or fail to attend the expedited interview will lose the $750 fee.

The Bottom Line

The new program does not allow applicants to pay for visa approval. It allows eligible B-1 and B-2 applicants at participating Consulates to pay $750 for a chance to obtain an interview within 10 business days. Travelers should confirm that the service is available at their selected embassy or consulate before relying on it for urgent travel.

For more information please contact your Embassy or Consulate directly.

Contact Us. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please text 619-483-4549 or call 619-819-9204.

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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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USCIS may not be denying your green card case — but it may be quietly putting it on hold.

As of December 2, 2025, USCIS and the State Department began a new “hold and review” process for certain immigration applications filed by individuals from 39 countries – suspending the issuance of visas and green cards for all applicants for an uncertain period of time. Under this policy, officers are expected to pause final decisions while enhanced security vetting processes are established by the government.

For applicants, that means one thing: more delays and uncertainty.

If your case was moving forward, your fingerprints were already taken, or you were expecting an interview soon, this sudden pause could explain why everything has gone silent.

In this update, we break down what USCIS’s “hold and review” policy means, who may be affected, whether you need to take action, and what applicants should watch for next.

Why is there a “hold and review” policy?

In June and December 2025, the President issued various executive orders, imposing immigration restrictions affecting individuals from 39 countries. The ban affects their ability to enter the United States, receive U.S. visas, and obtain immigration benefits through agencies like USCIS and the Department of State via Consular processing.

The affected countries include Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and individuals holding Palestinian-Authority-issued travel documents.

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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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Overstaying a U.S. visa can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t always mean your options are gone. In fact, there are legal pathways that may allow certain individuals to remain in the United States even after a visa has expired.

In this post, we’ll break down three lawful options, explain who they may apply to, and clarify common misconceptions—so you can better understand your situation and make informed decisions.

Legal Options After a U.S. Visa Expiration

Option #1 Marriage to a U.S. Citizen

Marriage to a U.S. citizen is one of the most common legal options for individuals who have overstayed a visa. Under U.S. immigration law, spouses of U.S. citizens are considered “immediate relatives,” which means they may be eligible to apply for lawful permanent residence (a green card) from within the United States, even if they later overstayed their visa.

This process typically involves filing several immigration forms, submitting proof that the marriage is bona fide (such as shared finances or living arrangements), completing a medical exam, and attending an in-person interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

While a visa overstay is often forgiven, recently there has been an increase in immigration enforcement actions where spouses of U.S. citizens have been detained due to visa overstays, during their marriage-based green card interviews.

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Navigating the U.S. immigration system is difficult enough — but what many people don’t realize is that even legal immigrants can face deportation for mistakes they never knew were serious.

From minor paperwork oversights to everyday misunderstandings of immigration rules, these pitfalls can put lawful status at risk without warning.

In this guide, we break down the 7 most common mistakes that get even legal immigrants deported — and number 4 surprised even us. Understanding these risks is essential to protecting your future in the United States.

Mistake #1 Crimes of Moral Turpitude

Certain offenses—known as crimes involving moral turpitude—carry especially harsh consequences, including deportation, even for green card holders.

These crimes typically involve conduct considered dishonest, deceptive, or morally unacceptable, such as fraud, theft, domestic violence, or certain assault-related offenses.

What complicates things further is that even a single conviction could trigger removal proceedings for permanent residents and nonimmigrant visa holders.

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Navigating the H-1B visa process can feel like a maze, especially if you’re aiming to take the unconventional route of self-sponsorship. In 2025, more skilled professionals and entrepreneurs are exploring ways to secure an H-1B visa without relying on a traditional employer.

This guide breaks down the essential steps, requirements, and practical strategies for individuals looking to sponsor themselves, empowering you to take control of your U.S. work authorization journey.

What you’ll learn in this video:

  • What is the H-1B visa
  • How to sponsor yourself for the H-1B Visa
  • Requirements for self-sponsorship
  • Jobs that qualify for self-sponsorship

Overview of the H-1B visa

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant U.S. visa that allows foreign workers to live and work in the United States in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. It is widely used by professionals in fields like technology, engineering, healthcare, and academia.

Key Features

  • Employer-Sponsored: A U.S. employer must petition on your behalf.
  • Specialty Occupation Requirement: The job must require at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field.
  • Cap-Subject: Most H-1B visas fall under an annual cap (currently 85,000 per fiscal year, with 20,000 reserved for U.S. advanced degree holders), though certain employers like universities are cap-exempt.
  • Annual H-1B Lottery: Because the number of petitions often exceeds the cap of 85,000 visas (65,000 regular + 20,000 for U.S. advanced degree holders), USCIS conducts a random lottery in March to select petitions for processing. This means that even qualified applicants may not be selected, making the H-1B highly competitive.
  • Dual Intent: H-1B visa holders can apply for a green card while on the visa, making it “dual intent” compatible.

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If you’re a U.S. Green Card holder, you might think your permanent residency means smooth sailing through Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after returning from temporary foreign travel. But 2025 has brought some surprising developments that remind every lawful permanent resident (LPR) to be extra cautious. These changes might sound a little crazy—but ignoring them could cause big problems at the port of entry.

New CBP Policy—Mandatory Data Collection Practice

Starting December 26, 2025, CBP will roll out a new policy mandating the collection of biometric data from green card holders and noncitizens upon their entry to and departure from the United States.

This new policy requires all noncitizens, including green card holders, to have their photograph taken and potentially provide additional biometrics (such as fingerprints, iris scans, or voice prints) when entering or exiting the U.S. via land, sea or airports.

The regulation is intended to strengthen border security, reduce travel document fraud and ensure more accurate records of departures and arrivals; however, it also raises significant privacy considerations as agencies will collect, store, and process biometric data from large numbers of individuals.

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