Immigration News, Information, and Latest Happenings
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Federal District Court Rules USCIS 39-Country Pause Unlawful
On June 5, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island vacated and set aside a series of Trump administration policies that had indefinitely halted the processing of immigration applications for individuals from 39 countries.
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Federal District Court Strikes Down $100,000 H-1B Fee
On June 8, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts vacated the $100,000 H-1B fee requirement created by Presidential Proclamation, ruling that the fee was unlawful because the government lacked the authority to impose this excessive fee.
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ImLaw Update on the New USCIS Policy on Adjustment of Status and Discretion
ImLaw attorneys are closely monitoring how USCIS is implementing the new policy memorandum, “Adjustment of Status is a Matter of Discretion and Administrative Grace, and an Extraordinary Relief that Permits Applicants to Dispense with the Ordinary Consular Visa Process,” PM-602-0199, issued on May 22, 2026.
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Weighted H-1B Cap Selection Process, Premium Processing Fee Increases, Immigrant Visa Pause, & New R-1 Rule
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule changing the random selection process for H-1B cap registrations to a weighted selection process based on wage level. Effective February 27, 2026, the final rule will apply to the FY 2027 H-1B cap registration period, which is anticipated to occur in March 2026.
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DOL Resumes Processing of Applications & DHS Ends Auto-Extension of EADs
As of October 31, 2025, the Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has resumed processing of Prevailing Wage Requests (PWRs), PERM applications, and Labor Condition Applications (LCAs). Employers can now move forward with H-1B and PERM filings, though longer processing times are expected as the agency becomes fully operational.
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Important Clarifications Posted by USCIS on New $100,000 H-1B Payment
On October 20, 2025, USCIS updated its “H-1B Specialty Occupations” webpage, clarifying who is subject to the $100,000 payment required of certain H-1B petitions filed on or after 9/21/25.
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H-1B Proclamation Updates, Several Questions Remain
Following the President’s 9/19/25 proclamation titled, “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers”, the government has issued guidance clarifying that it applies only to NEW, prospective H-1B petitions that have not yet been filed with USCIS. Current H-1B visa holders are not affected.
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URGENT H-1B ALERT
Last night, without warning, President Trump signed a proclamation after hours, which goes into effect at 12:01AM on Sunday, 9/21/25. Any H-1B workers seeking to enter the United States after that time will be required to show they have paid a $100,000 entry fee to the U.S. Government.
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USCIS Announces New Naturalization Civics Test
On 9/17/25, USCIS announced a change to the Naturalization Civics Test. USCIS will implement a new 2025 Naturalization Civics Test.
Photo by Anthony Garand on Unsplash.
FY 2026 H-1B Cap Reached
On July 18, 2025, USCIS announced the following:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year 2026.
FY 2026 H-1B Cap Alert and TPS Venezuela Update
On March 31, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the following:
Who is affected by the Trump administration’s Registration Requirement? Read more here:
Reach out to ImLaw at Contact ImLaw in Grand Rapids, MI • Imlaw; we’ll be happy to recommend reputable immigration counsel for consultation.
Anticipating Business Immigration Changes from the Second Trump Administration
Changes in U.S. immigration policy are making headlines daily. Employers should also prepare for changes in business immigration, including delays and longer processing times, higher scrutiny on employment-based applications, and a greater focus on employer compliance.
ImLaw Attorney Profile: Brian Mick
Brian Mick brings 15 years of immigration law experience to ImLaw. Since 2012, Brian has practiced exclusively immigration law including employment-based immigration and family-based immigration at ImLaw. He tells his story about how he discovered his passion for immigration law, his hobbies, and his work at ImLaw.
Unlocking Opportunity: Equipping Businesses in Michigan to Hire and Retain International Talent
ImLaw attorney Susan Im spoke at two events in 2024 aimed at equipping businesses of all sizes to better understand the process of hiring and retaining international talent. As our communities continue to be enriched by international students and immigrants, these resources help ensure that employers understand how to fill the talent gaps they face within critical positions.