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.

DHS, in consultation with DOL, announced that it expects to make an additional 64,716 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas available for FY2025, on top of the congressionally mandated 66,000 H-2B visas that are available each fiscal year.

USCIS has issued updated policy guidance clarifying that naturalization applicants need only demonstrate lawful admission for permanent residence at their initial entry or adjustment of status, not for subsequent reentries, in line with a recent Fourth Circuit ruling.

DOS posted the December 2024 visa bulletin, including final action dates, dates for filing, and updates on the DV program and SIVs. USCIS determined that for December 2024, applicants in all family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories must use the Dates for Filing charts. However, the December Visa Bulletin shows no advancement for either family-based or employment-based categories.

USCIS has updated its guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 8, Part B, Chapter 3 to reflect the indefinite validity of immigration medical examination documentation for certain Afghan nationals who arrived in the United States during Operation Allies.

High-skilled foreign workers seeking H-1B visas and employment-based green cards may face new challenges under Donald Trump’s second term, as he pledges tighter immigration policies. This could mean more delays and stricter requirements, especially for international graduates in tech and engineering. Critics, like David Bier of the Cato Institute, expect a more cumbersome process, reflecting the previous administration’s approach. While the H-1B lottery has been updated, further changes, including a narrower “specialty occupation” definition, are still pending. Advocates hope these rules will advance, but uncertainty remains.

A federal judge has struck down the Biden administration’s Keeping Families Together program, which aimed to grant legal status and a path to citizenship for unauthorized immigrants married to U.S. citizens. Judge J. Campbell Barker ruled the program violated immigration law, siding with Texas and other Republican-led states. The program, meant to support family unity, would have provided work permits and deportation protections, allowing eligible immigrants to apply for green cards without leaving the U.S. The White House expressed disappointment, while the Justice Department may appeal amid expected opposition from the incoming Trump administration.