USCIS now requires Form I-693 (medical exam results) to be submitted with Form I-485 (green card application). Missing Form I-693 may lead to rejection. Applicants should plan ahead, complete the medical exam with approved doctors, and include the sealed results with their application.

USCIS has filled the FY 2025 H-1B cap of 65,000 regular and 20,000 master’s cap visas. With a new lottery system, applications dropped to 470,342 from 758,994 in FY 2024, with 29% selected. No more lotteries will be held, but cap-exempt petitions remain open. Employers should prepare for FY 2026 and check USCIS’s H-1B Cap Season page for updates.

DHS reported record removals in FY 2024, the highest since 2010. Following President Biden’s June 4 Proclamation on southern border entry, over 640 repatriation flights were conducted to 155+ countries, reducing Border Patrol encounters by 55%. DHS continues to expand removal efforts to enforce immigration laws.

DHS has introduced new categories for surviving spouses and children of U.S. government employees who died abroad, enabling eligible family members to obtain permanent resident status under recent laws. Key changes include 12 new classifications, like SS1 (surviving spouse or child) and GS1 (family of certain visa holders). These statuses grant lawful permanent residency and work authorization.

DHS and DOL issued a temporary final rule providing 64,716 additional H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for FY 2025. These visas support U.S. employers in industries like hospitality, landscaping, and seafood processing facing labor shortages. Similar supplemental caps were authorized in prior fiscal years under temporary Congressional authority.

USCIS has updated the Policy Manual for F/M nonimmigrant students, clarifying STEM OPT eligibility, online study limits, school transfers, and study abroad. Students can now count one online course or three credits per term toward full-time study. The policy also addresses school transfers, status changes during the 60-day OPT grace period, and rules for study abroad under five months.

The U.S. Department of State hosts Passport Acceptance Fairs for first-time applicants and children using Form DS-11, often on evenings and weekends. Adults renewing with Form DS-82 can apply online or by mail. Find upcoming events by date and state or use the Acceptance Facility Search Tool to locate a nearby facility offering routine and expedited services.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designated Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months due to the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis. Eligible Lebanese nationals in the U.S. can apply for deportation protection, work permits, and travel authorization. Additionally, DHS is easing work restrictions for Lebanese F-1 students facing economic hardship, allowing more work hours, reduced course loads, and off-campus work through 2026.

The USCIS has updated policy on adjustment of status for victims of severe human trafficking (T nonimmigrants), clarifying eligibility, documentation, and requirements. The guidance supersedes prior rules and includes new definitions and exceptions.

The USCIS has updated its Policy Manual to clarify custody requirements for children acquiring U.S. citizenship under INA sections 320 and 322, including guidance on legal and physical custody, retroactive corrections, and derivation of citizenship under former INA section 321.

The USCIS has updated its Policy Manual to clarify that a naturalization applicant’s requirement to prove lawful admission for permanent residence applies only to their initial admission or adjustment to LPR status. Subsequent reentries to the U.S. do not require the same demonstration of lawful admission

The United States remains a top destination for international students, hosting over 1.1 million during the 2023-2024 academic year—a record-breaking figure and a 7% increase from the previous year. According to a report by the Institute of International Education (IIE), India has surpassed China as the leading country of origin for international students, marking the first time this has occurred since 2009.