The U.S. Department of State recently updated its Foreign Affairs Manual to recognize a new classification within the B-1 Business Visitor visa category. Known as the "Specialized Trainer," this addition gives multinational companies a clearer pathway for bringing foreign experts to the United States when the primary goal is transferring specialized knowledge...
Navigating the July 2026 Visa Bulletin: India Faces Major Setbacks as EB-2 and EB-5 Become Unavailable
The July 2026 Visa Bulletin brings significant developments for employment-based applicants, particularly those born in India. Due to heavy demand and visa number usage, the Department of State has made EB-2 India and EB-5 Unreserved India unavailable for the remainder of FY 2026. Meanwhile, several Family-Based categories continue to advance steadily, offering...
Federal Court Strikes Down USCIS Adjudication Pause for Nationals of 39 Countries — What It Means for Your Case
On June 5, 2026, a federal judge issued a major ruling that could affect thousands of immigrants whose cases were delayed under USCIS adjudication hold policies. In Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island v. USCIS, Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island vacated four USCIS policies that had placed an indefinite...
The STEM OPT Cliff: What International Graduates and Employers Need to Know
For years, the standard playbook for international STEM graduates in the U.S. was straightforward — finish school, start working on OPT, get sponsored for an H-1B, and go from there. That playbook is no longer working as reliably as it once did, and a growing number of graduates are responding by putting...
New USCIS Signature Rule Means One Bad Signature Can Sink an Approved Filing
A new federal rule taking effect on July 10, 2026 is changing what happens when a signature on an immigration filing is found to be defective — and the consequences are far more serious than most petitioners and employers realize.
On May 11, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security...
New State Department Pilot Program Could Offer Faster B-1/B-2 Visa Interview Appointments
Individuals seeking B-1/B-2 visitor visas to the United States may soon have a new option for obtaining interview appointments more quickly.
The U.S. Department of State has announced a temporary pilot program that would allow certain applicants to pay an additional fee in exchange for access to expedited visa...
Federal Court Strikes Down $100,000 H-1B Fee: What Employers Need to Know
On June 8, 2026, a federal judge in Boston delivered a significant win for U.S. employers who depend on the H-1B visa program. U.S. District Judge Leo T. Sorokin of the District of Massachusetts struck down the Trump administration’s $100,000 supplemental fee on new H-1B petitions, ruling that the executive branch imposed...
India Hits the EB-5 Unreserved Visa Limit for FY 2026: What Indian Investors Need to Know
The U.S. Department of State has announced that all available EB-5 unreserved immigrant visa numbers for applicants chargeable to India have been exhausted for fiscal year 2026. As a result, no additional EB-5 unreserved immigrant visas may be issued to India-born applicants through September 30, 2026.
The annual limits...
U.S. and Canadian Immigration Newsletter – USCIS Policy Updates, H-1B Developments, Visa Bulletin News & Canadian Immigration Updates (June 2026)
Stay informed with the latest developments in U.S. and Canadian immigration law. In this edition of the NPZ Law Group Immigration Newsletter, we cover important USCIS policy updates, adjustment of status guidance, H-1B visa developments, employment authorization proposals, EB-1 green card strategies, citizenship considerations, Visa Bulletin updates, and key Canadian immigration news....
Canada Makes Travel Easier for Eligible Visitors from Indonesia and Malaysia
Canada has introduced new travel measures that may simplify entry requirements for certain citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia. Eligible travelers who previously held a Canadian visitor visa or currently possess a valid U.S. nonimmigrant visa may now qualify for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) when flying to Canada. The change is expected...
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