Attorney Nicole Stone

Potential U.S. Government Shutdown We would like to inform you that a U.S. federal government shutdown is possible on or around January 31, 2026, due to ongoing budget negotiations in Congress. While no shutdown has been officially announced, we are closely monitoring ongoing developments. Why does it happen? A “government shutdown” occurs when Congress fails…

Add Your Heading Text Here The Department of State Pauses Immigrant Visas for 75 Countries Effective January 21, 2026, the Department of State will pause immigrant visa processing (permanent residence) for applicants from 75 countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, and Russia. Key Takeaways  The pause applies to immigrant visas (permanent residence) processed at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad. The pause does not affect…

Premium Processing Fees will increase effective March 1, 2026 The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an Interim Final Rule that increases USCIS fees for Premium Processing (Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing). The rule will apply to applications filed on or after March 1, 2026. The information below provides a comprehensive breakdown of these updates….

FY 2026 H-2B Supplemental Cap: What Employers Need to Know Now The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have announced plans to release 35,000 supplemental H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2026, in addition to the standard annual cap. While this is welcome news for employers with seasonal and temporary hiring…

H-2B Supplemental Cap Update: 2026 Please note an important update on the H-2B Supplemental Cap. The Department of Labor’s initial announcement stated supplemental visas would be directed toward critical infrastructure sectors, “such as” seafood, forestry, hospitality and tourism, transportation, and manufacturing. DOL used the phrase “such as,” indicating that the industries identified may be illustrative…

DHS Announces Final Rule Establishing Weighted Selection Process for Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions On December 23, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized a rule that fundamentally changes how H-1B cap registrations are selected. Beginning February 27, 2026, USCIS will replace the random lottery with a weighted, wage-level–based selection system, to be used for the…

USCIS Reverses Policy on Extended EAD Validity Effective December 5, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will implement a major revision to Employment Authorization Document (EAD) validity periods. The agency is shortening the maximum validity for certain categories from five years to 18 months, thereby rescinding the extension granted in September 2023. USCIS indicates…

Preparing for H-2A Compliance, Strategy, & Workforce Planning The H-2A program continues to be one of the most reliable paths for agricultural employers seeking seasonal labor — but it also remains one of the most heavily regulated. In our recent webinar, we walked employers through the full H-2A process, compliance requirements, the new 2025 AEWR…

DHS Ends Automatic Extension of Employment Authorization The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on October 29, 2025, an Interim Final Rule ending the automatic extension of Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The rule will apply to EAD applications filed on or after October 30, 2025. Key Takeaways  The rule eliminates the automatic 540-day extension previously…

H-1B Visa Fee Update: USCIS Releases Guidance on $100K H-1B Visa Fee In response to the Presidential Proclamation Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers announced on September 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released guidance on the application of the $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee.    Key Takeaways: Does not apply to individuals who already…

Add New $1,000 Parole Fee: What does it mean for Parole Applicants? As part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin charging a $1,000 fee to individuals who are granted parole into the U.S., with limited exceptions. The new fee will be effective starting October 16, 2025….

DACA’s Potential Return: What This Means for Dreamers and Employers In response to the ongoing Texas v. United States case, the federal government has proposed resuming the processing of initial Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) applications. However, under the current proposal, DACA applicants residing in Texas would not be eligible for employment authorization. The…