Significant rescheduling of H-1B/H-4 visa appointments in India, ongoing restrictions on third-country processing, and expanded visa applicant screening and vetting have constrained visa-processing options and heightened...more
U.S. employers and employees with nonimmigrant visa status should be aware of significant disruptions in the scheduling of H-1B and H-4 visa interviews at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world, with the potential for...more
On October 21, 2025, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) released additional information regarding the $100,000 H-1B fee mandated by Presidential Proclamation dated September 19, 2025....more
On Saturday, September 6, the Department of State announced that, effective immediately, individuals should plan to process nonimmigrant visa applications in their country of nationality or residence. ...more
On Sept. 6, the U.S. Department of State updated its policy requiring all nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applicants to schedule their visa interviews at the U.S. embassy or consulate located in their country of nationality or legal...more
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) recently delivered a one-two punch to nonimmigrant visa processing: (1) as of September 2, 2025, the “interview waiver” (or “dropbox processing”) option for nonimmigrant visas has...more
On Saturday, September 6th, 2025, the Department of State announced that, effective immediately, all applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas (NIV) should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or...more
The Department of State (DOS) announced that effective immediately, applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas (NIVs) should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of...more
Due to the changing political situation in the United States and throughout the world there is a moderate level of risk with return to the U.S. following international travel at this time. We strongly advise all nonimmigrant...more
On July 25, 2025, the US State Department announced that US embassies will greatly reduce eligibility for the nonimmigrant visa interview waiver program beginning on September 2, 2025. In addition, the State Department will...more
On July 25, the U.S. Department of State announced that, effective September 2, most nonimmigrant visa applicants will no longer qualify for a visa interview waiver. Additionally, India’s popular dropbox “appointments,” which...more
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has turned its attention to U.S. consulates and embassies abroad, resulting in a pared-down Visa Appointment Wait Times website and plans to close at least a dozen, mostly...more
Effective February 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) made changes to the visa interview waiver program, leaving applicants and employers scrambling to navigate the new requirements. These restrictions—implemented...more
The slew of executive orders published by the Trump Administration in January included references to: •Vetting and screening to the maximum degree across agencies - •Reestablishing a uniform baseline for screening and...more
President Donald Trump's return to the Oval Office is expected to reshape U.S. policies related to immigration. Many of those changes will impact U.S. employers, even those without employees on work visas. Here are the top...more
The U.S. embassy in Israel announced, on October 16, 2023, that it would cease immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services due to the country’s unpredictable security situation. Shortly after the U.S. embassy made this...more
The U.S. Department of State recently announced that it is developing the capability to issue digital visa authorizations (DVA) instead of the traditional visas that are printed and placed in applicants’ passports. This...more
On August 3, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) replaced the endorsed Form I-129S for L-1 blanket petitions with an I-129S approval notice that will now serve as the endorsement....more
In 2020, Japan imposed strict COVID-19 measures which, among other things, has since prevented most Americans from entering Japan. Japan’s border closings created a dilemma for litigators who needed to depose a witness in...more
On March 28, 2023, the U.S. Department of State published final adjustments to the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services for several nonimmigrant visa (NIV) application processing fees and the fee for border crossing cards...more
Newly released data from the U.S. Department of State shows that U.S. consular posts abroad have made significant progress in reaching pre-pandemic levels of immigrant and nonimmigrant visa issuance during fiscal year (FY)...more
On December 23, 2022, the U.S. Department of State announced that the secretary of state has extended consular officers’ authority to waive the in-person visa interview requirement through December 31, 2023. This extension of...more
The U.S. Department of State announced on May 16, 2022, a series of measures aimed at supporting the Cuban people and independent Cuban entrepreneurs and loosening Trump-era restrictions that largely isolated the island and...more
The Department of State, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, has authorized consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for certain non-immigrant visa applicants with approved...more
The U.S. secretary of state, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has authorized consular officers to waive in-person interviews for certain nonimmigrant visa applicants through the end of...more