Chris Prescott

DHS Ends Automatic Extension of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs): What This Means for Immigrants and Employers Introduction In a sweeping policy shift, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a new rule ending the long-standing practice of automatically extending Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for certain renewal applicants. This change represents a significant departure from...

On October 17, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy alert revising the USCIS Policy Manual to provide updated guidance on qualifying spousal relationships for family-based Form I-130 immigrant visa petitions under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The policy is effective immediately and applies to all petitions pending or filed on...

Avoid Rejections: USCIS Adopts Electronic-Only Fee Payments Effective October 28, 2025, USCIS will no longer accept paper checks or money orders for filing fees payments. This is due to Executive Order 14247, Modernizing Payments to and from America’s Bank Account. This order aims to move away from paper-based payments in favor of secure electronic methods...

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a notice in the Federal Register implementing a new immigration-parole fee under the provisions of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” Below is a summary of the key facts, plus context and what this means for individuals who are paroled into the United States. What the fee...

The Supreme Court has declined to review a long-running legal challenge to the work authorization program for spouses of H-1B visa holders, known as the H-4 EAD. On October 14, 2025, the Court refused to take up Save Jobs USA v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, effectively ending the case and leaving in place the...

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has provided additional clarification on how the $100,000 H-1B payment under the recent Presidential Proclamation will be applied and processed. The measure, which takes effect September 21, 2025 (12:01 a.m. EDT), significantly changes the filing requirements for certain H-1B petitions. Who Is Subject to the $100,000 Fee The...

The current government shutdown has created significant uncertainty for employers and foreign workers navigating the H-1B process. While the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) remains operational, other key agencies involved in the process, particularly the Department of Labor (DOL), have been directly affected, making it challenging for employers to move forward with H-1B filings....

Family reunification is a key part of U.S. immigration law. It allows U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) to sponsor certain family members for permanent residency. While the process offers a meaningful path to bring loved ones together, it can also be complex. Below, we answer some common questions about eligibility, petitioning,...