The October 2025 Visa Bulletin opens the new fiscal year with some forward movement in Family-Based and Employment-Based categories. While EB-4 remains heavily backlogged and Religious Workers are “Unavailable,” modest advances are seen in EB-2, EB-3, and Family categories. Here’s what you need to know.
Employment-Based Preferences: Final...Immigration Raids Highlight Risks for Employers Using Subcontracted Labor
Recent federal enforcement actions by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have sent a strong reminder to U.S. employers: immigration compliance responsibilities extend well beyond direct hires. Raids at factories, farms, and construction sites in recent months have uncovered widespread unauthorized employment — much of it...
Express Entry as a Pathway to Canadian Citizenship
Canada’s Express Entry system is one of the most efficient and widely used immigration routes. Rather than being a single program, it is an online management system that handles applications under three main categories:
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)DHS Proposes Fixed Admission Periods for F, J, and I Visa Holders
On August 28, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that could significantly reshape the way F-1 academic students, J-1 exchange visitors, and I-visa foreign media representatives are admitted to the United States.
If finalized, this rule would replace the long-standing practice...
Healthcare Workers and the Pathway to Canadian Citizenship
Canada continues to recognize the vital role that healthcare professionals play in strengthening the country’s public health system. In response to ongoing demand, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced and maintained several programs and public policies that allow healthcare workers to transition from temporary resident status to permanent residency (PR)...
L-1 Visa Insights: How Policy Statements Support Intra-Company Transfers
The L-1 visa remains one of the most valuable tools for multinational companies seeking to transfer executives, managers, or specialized knowledge employees into the United States. It provides a legal pathway for global organizations to share expertise, establish new offices, and strengthen cross-border operations.
Recently, public statements by political leaders...
Key U.S. and Canadian Immigration Updates – September 2025
Immigration law continues to evolve on both sides of the border. In this edition, we highlight DHS’s proposal to end “duration of status” admissions for F-1, J-1, and I-1 visa holders, new USCIS guidance on discretionary benefits and good moral character, as well as updated rules on visa interviews, public charge, and...
State Department Updates Visa Interview Requirements: Apply in Your Country of Residence
On September 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced new rules for scheduling nonimmigrant visa (NIV) interviews. Applicants must now generally schedule their appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence.
If an applicant tries to schedule outside their home country,...
New USCIS Payment Option: Direct Debit via Form G-1650
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new and secure way to pay filing fees.
Effective immediately (August 29, 2025): Applicants and petitioners can authorize direct debit (ACH) payments from a U.S. bank account by filing Form G-1650, Authorization for ACH Transactions, with their applications, petitions, or...
USCIS Reaffirms Guidance on Public Charge Inadmissibility: What Applicants and Sponsors Need to Know
On September 4, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0190, reaffirming its guidance on how officers must evaluate the Public Charge ground of inadmissibility under Section 212(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This update underscores the government’s continued focus on ensuring that individuals seeking permanent residence are...
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