The U.S. State Department has released the August 2025 Visa Bulletin, showing the latest green card wait times. Most family-based categories remained unchanged, but the F-2A category advanced by one month for all countries, while the F-4 sibling category moved ahead by three months and three weeks for China and “All Other Areas.” In the employment-based categories, EB-2 dates slipped by one month and two weeks, EB-3 for India moved forward one month, and EB-5 saw major progress for India and China.

USCIS data reveals that processing times for green card renewals and replacements (Form I-90) have skyrocketed nearly 1,000% in just one quarter. From January to March 2025, the median wait time jumped from under a month to over eight months, as application volumes and backlogs surged. Over 356,000 cases remained pending at the end of the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2025 (Q2 FY2025). USCIS now estimates 80% of green card replacements could take over a year to process. The delays come amid broader immigration backlogs and the Trump administration’s stepped-up enforcement efforts, leaving many lawful permanent residents in limbo while waiting for proof of legal status.

A recent jobs report highlights a growing risk to U.S. economic growth from declining immigration and labor force participation. Though unemployment remains low, over 735,000 foreign-born workers have left the workforce since January. Experts, including Fed Chair Jerome Powell, blame restrictive immigration policies — mass deportations, parole terminations, and refugee bans — for the slowdown. Sectors like healthcare face severe staffing shortages as work authorizations disappear. Research also challenges the idea that cutting immigrant labor boosts wages, showing wage growth has slowed in industries once reliant on immigrant workers.

DOL Acting Assistant Secretary issued Training and Employment Guidance Letter 10-23, Change 2, directing the public workforce development system to update all policies and procedures to ensure all Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act program participants have valid U.S. work authorization.

The White House announced the Administration is taking steps to block undocumented immigrants from accessing federally funded benefits, such as preschool and food assistance. The announcement cited changes from the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Agriculture, Labor, and Justice.

The Department of Homeland Security is now urging E-Verify employers to manually run status change reports to identify workers—especially from the CHNV parole program—whose work authorization may have been revoked. This follows a Supreme Court ruling ending certain humanitarian protections like parole and TPS. Employers won’t receive alerts automatically and must now proactively verify work authorization. If a permit is no longer valid, they must check for another legal status or update Form I-9. DHS also reminds employers to avoid discrimination and apply these checks fairly to all workers, regardless of national origin.

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) Act into law, allocating $165 billion to the Department of Homeland Security to enhance immigration enforcement and national security. The bill funds major expansions, including 10,000 new ICE agents, 100,000 detention beds, and border wall construction, aiming to increase deportations—especially of criminal illegal aliens—up to 1 million per year. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem hailed the bill as a major win for law and order.

USCIS marked Independence Day 2025 by hosting naturalization ceremonies nationwide, welcoming hundreds of new U.S. citizens who lawfully completed the immigration process. The agency emphasized its commitment to lawful immigration, national unity, and patriotism. USCIS also highlighted the termination of Biden-era programs like CHNV and TPS, framing it as a move to restore integrity to the immigration system.

DHS announced that noncitizens who “self-deport” through the CBP Home App will receive forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties for failing to depart the U.S. Currently, individuals can be fined nearly $1,000 per day if they do not depart after a final deportation order. This is in addition to the cost-free travel and $1,000 stipend that DHS has promised to those who “self-deport.”

USCIS has released an important update regarding the Adjustment of Status Filing Charts for July 2025, in alignment with the Department of State’s July 2025 Visa Bulletin. For family-sponsored preference categories, applicants must refer to the Dates for Filing chart in the July 2025 Visa Bulletin. In contrast, for employment-based preference categories, USCIS has mandated the use of the Final Action Dates chart.

USCIS has issued an important update to Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, with a new edition dated 01/20/25. As of June 2, 2025, applicants may continue to use either the 03/09/23 edition or the 01/20/25 edition, provided the civil surgeon signs the form on or before July 2, 2025. However, beginning July 3, 2025, USCIS will only accept the 01/20/25 edition of Form I-693. Applicants should check the edition date at the bottom of the form and its instructions to ensure compliance and avoid delays in processing their applications.

The Trump administration is offering $1,000 and paid travel for immigrants in the U.S. illegally who opt for “self-deportation.” By using the CBP Home app, migrants can inform authorities of their departure and avoid being prioritized for detention. Homeland Security describes it as a “cost-effective” alternative to arrest and deportation. Trump suggests that those who leave voluntarily may eventually have a chance to return legally. Critics argue the program is coercive and dehumanizing. One migrant has already taken up the offer.