The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new rule affecting the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, just over a year after immigration filing fees were significantly increased in April 2024. Under the EB–5 Reform Act, DHS is authorized to set fees, and this rule proposes several changes, including reductions to the EB-5 fees...
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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...
Funding an EB-5 investment with personal salary savings or business profits is common. However, more investors are now turning to less traditional funding sources, such as retirement accounts. In particular, using a Self-Directed Individual Retirement Accounts to fund an EB-5 investment has become increasingly popular. What is a Self-Directed IRA? A Self-Directed IRA is a...
Oct272025
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....