US to Photograph Nearly All Non-Citizens at Entry and Exit Under Sweeping Biometric Rule
DHS Opens Comment Period on Wage-Based H-1B Lottery Reform
Interview Waivers Scrapped for Children and Seniors Applying for US Visas
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DHS Cancels Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status Extension, Program to End August 2025
On Oct 26 DHS declared that Haiti’s TPS designation will end on Aug 3 2025, affecting more than 500,000 Haitians. Businesses employing TPS workers must plan for potential loss of work authorization, while advocates prepare legal challenges.
Press Groups Warn DHS Visa Rule Could Muzzle Foreign Journalists in US
On Oct 26 press-freedom groups sounded the alarm over a DHS plan to slash I-visa validity to 240 days. Media companies say the rule would disrupt coverage and expose foreign correspondents to political pressure, while DHS frames it as a routine integrity measure.
U.S. to Photograph All Departing Non-Citizens Under New Biometric Exit Rule
Beginning December 26, 2025, CBP will photograph every departing non-citizen, completing the U.S. biometric entry-exit system. The rule removes age-based exemptions and covers all airports, seaports and land borders. While DHS says the move tightens security and tracks overstays, companies must prepare foreign workers for longer inspections and address privacy concerns.
$100K H-1B Fee Triggers Sponsorship Freeze at Major U.S. Employers
A new US$100,000 H-1B filing fee has prompted several large U.S. employers to halt or scale back visa sponsorship, raising fears of talent flight to Canada and Europe. The fee, effective for petitions filed after September 21, 2025, dramatically increases the cost of hiring foreign professionals and reshapes global mobility budgeting.
Silicon Valley Firm Sues USCIS Over ‘Arbitrary’ H-1B Denial
Xterra Solutions has taken USCIS to federal court after the agency denied an H-1B petition for an Indian tech worker, alleging the decision was arbitrary and unsupported by evidence. The case highlights a resurgence in H-1B denials following new Trump-era guidance and underscores mounting legal risks for employers that rely on foreign talent.
USCIS Confirms F-1 to H-1B Changes of Status Exempt from $100K Fee
USCIS has clarified that the US$100,000 H-1B fee does not apply to foreign nationals already in the U.S. who change to, extend or amend H-1B status. The exemption gives employers a potential workaround to the hefty surcharge but raises fraud-prevention questions.
State Department Raises Non-Immigrant Visa Processing Fees
Effective May 30, the State Department has raised most non-immigrant visa application fees—B-1/B-2 and F/J visas now cost US$185, while H and L petitions rise to US$205. The policy, highlighted in an October 25 report, modestly increases mobility costs and foreshadows further financial burdens from the upcoming US$250 Visa Integrity Fee.
Privacy Advocates Challenge DHS Biometric Expansion in New Campaign
Civil-liberties groups have mounted a legal and public-relations offensive against DHS’s new biometric exit mandate, claiming it overreaches statutory authority and endangers traveler privacy. The campaign could delay implementation, adding uncertainty for companies coordinating cross-border assignments.
U.S. Lifts Visa Sanctions on Ghana After Diplomatic Breakthrough
Parliamentary leaders in Accra confirmed that the United States lifted visa sanctions on Ghana in September after months of negotiations. The reversal, highlighted in an October 25 report, restores B-type visa processing and removes a significant obstacle for U.S.–Ghana business travel.
St. Kitts-Nevis Ex-Prime Minister Still Barred From U.S. Travel
Ten years after the U.S. revoked his visa, former St. Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister Denzil Douglas remains unable to travel to America, underscoring the long memory of consular security concerns surrounding Caribbean citizenship-by-investment passports.