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USCIS Modernizes Fee Payments with Electronic Funds
Photo Courtesy by Ivan S from Pexels USCIS Modernizes Fee Payments with Electronic Funds U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a significant update to how immigration filing fees can be paid. Effective August 29, 2025, USCIS requires applicants and petitioners to submit filing fees through direct electronic debit from a U.S. bank account, marking […]
USCIS Increases Screening, Vetting of Aliens Working in U.S.
Photo Courtesy by Изображения пользователя Be Easy USCIS Increases Screening, Vetting of Aliens Working in U.S. On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14159, directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to strictly enforce the long-standing Alien Registration Requirement (ARR) under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA §262). While this requirement has existed for […]
Surprise USCIS Checks Hit F-1 STEM OPT Students
Image courtesy of pocstock Surprise USCIS Checks Hit F-1 STEM OPT Students: What You Need to Know F-1 students on OPT and STEM OPT extensions are facing a new wave of immigration scrutiny. Since late 2024, immigration attorneys across the country have reported a sharp rise in surprise USCIS site visits—with officers showing up at […]
USCIS Ends Automatic EAD Extensions: What Employers and Workers Need to Know
Mike Marchetti from baseimage USCIS Ends Automatic EAD Extensions: What Employers and Workers Need to Know On October 30, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a major policy shift affecting thousands of noncitizen workers and U.S. employers. The agency is eliminating the automatic extension of work authorization for certain Employment Authorization Document (EAD) […]
Understanding the Alien Registration Requirement (ARR) in 2025
ZekaG from Getty Images Signature USCIS Update: Understanding the Alien Registration Requirement (ARR) in 2025 The U.S. tightened immigration registration compliance following Executive Order 14159. On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14159, directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enforce long-standing federal laws that require certain noncitizens in the United States […]
Updated Guidance on the $100,000 H-1B Proclamation fee
Photo by Alexander Mils on Unsplash On September 21, 2025, it was announced that the entry into the United States of foreign nationals as nonimmigrants to perform services in an H-1B specialty occupation was restricted, except for those foreign nationals whose petitions are accompanied or supplemented by a payment of $100,000. No guidance was given […]
The Pros & Cons of Filing USCIS Forms Online
I recently moved to a new office space. Which meant moving boxes and boxes of paper files. Many of my immigration law clients are surprised to find out how many forms we still file via paper copy. We File Most USCIS Forms on Paper While we would love to file more forms electronically, and US […]
USCIS Announces Temporary Pauses and Reviews Affecting Certain Immigration Cases
Photo courtesy of KHUNKORN from khunkorn USCIS Announces Temporary Pauses and Reviews Affecting Certain Immigration Cases In early December 2025, the Trump administration announced a series of significant immigration policy changes following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. The individual accused in the incident had previously entered the United States through […]