Friday, August 8th, 2025
USCIS: Family-Based Petitions Don’t Protect You from Removal (Aug. 1, 2025) Last updated: 8 August 2025 Bottom line: USCIS has clarified that filing a marriage or other family-based petition (I-130) or even an adjustment application (I-485) does not grant lawful status or immunity from removal. Officers may issue a Notice to Appear (NTA) if the
Wednesday, August 6th, 2025
U.S. B-1/B-2 Visa Bond Requirement Announced (2025) Published August 6, 2025 by Orlando Ortega-Medina The U.S. Department of State has launched a new Visa Bond Pilot Program. This program applies to certain travelers applying for B-1 or B-2 visas. If you plan to visit the United States for business or tourism, you may need to
Tuesday, July 15th, 2025
Major U.S. Immigration Fee Increases Enacted Under Reconciliation Bill Posted July 15, 2025 | By Ortega-Medina & Associates On July 4, 2025, the President signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping budget reconciliation package that includes significant changes to U.S. immigration law—most notably, new and increased fees for a wide range
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025
Senate Narrowly Passes Sweeping Immigration Enforcement Bill By Orlando Ortega-Medina, U.S. Immigration Lawyer London, England, July 2, 2025 In a 51–50 vote late Monday night, the U.S. Senate passed the One Big Beautiful Bill, a comprehensive 1,000-page legislative package that includes the most extensive expansion of immigration enforcement measures in decades. The bill passed along
Friday, June 20th, 2025
MYTH: E-2 visa holders can’t apply for a Green Card under EB-1C. TRUTH: They absolutely can. Many believe the EB-1C is only for L-1A visa holders. Not so. The type of visa you hold doesn’t determine eligibility—the role you play does. To qualify for EB-1C, you must: ✔ Have worked for a qualifying foreign entity
Thursday, June 19th, 2025
After a weeks-long pause that left many international students in limbo, the U.S. Department of State has resumed F and M visa appointments at embassies and consulates worldwide as of June 18, 2025. However, students should be aware: the resumption comes with enhanced vetting procedures, including a requirement that social media accounts be set to
Tuesday, June 17th, 2025
The Trump administration is considering extending its travel ban to citizens of 36 additional countries, according to an internal State Department memo obtained by Reuters. A. This move follows a recent order restricting travel from 12 nations, part of a wider immigration crackdown in President Trump’s second term. B. The memo—signed by Secretary of State
Friday, June 13th, 2025
As of June 12, 2025, USCIS must give an applicant a chance to respond to derogatory information or hidden issues about which they were previously unaware before denying a case. If the information can’t be shared directly (due to confidentiality or legal limits), USCIS must instead request similar details via an RFE or an interview.
Thursday, June 12th, 2025
On June 9, 2025, a new Presidential Proclamation went into effect restricting travel to the United States for nationals of 19 countries. While the ban is broad, the government has confirmed that exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis where travel is found to serve a U.S. national interest. Although formal criteria for these
Thursday, June 12th, 2025
Evolving Standards for E-2 Visa Interviews Recent reports from the U.S. Embassy in London indicate a marked change in how E-2 visa applications are being handled. Interviews that were once brief and largely procedural are now significantly longer and more detailed, with applicants being asked to provide far more information about their businesses, roles, and
