Business Immigration Insights https://www.hunton.com/business-immigration-insights/2025/ Mon, 07 Sep 2026 12:09:37 -0400 January 2026 Visa Bulletin – New Year, More Progress https://www.hunton.com/business-immigration-insights/january-2026-visa-bulletin-new-year-more-progress Suzan Kern, Carol Schlenker january-2026-visa-bulletin-new-year-more-progress Tue, 30 Dec 2025 09:00:01 -0500 The State Department has published the January Visa Bulletin.  In most cases, advances in priority dates are even greater than they were in December, ranging from 1 week for All Other Countries EB-3 Professionals to 1 full year for China EB-3 Other Workers.  Moreover, USCIS will continue using the Dates for Filing chart in January, allowing from 2 to 10 months of additional filing time, depending on nationality and category, with India the clear front-runner here.

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]]> DHS Terminates TPS for Ethiopia https://www.hunton.com/business-immigration-insights/dhs-terminates-tps-for-ethiopia Ian P. Band dhs-terminates-tps-for-ethiopia Tue, 16 Dec 2025 09:00:02 -0500 This post serves as a regularly updated resource to keep employers informed regarding TPS designations, extensions, cancellations, and other policy changes.

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]]> Trump Gold Card Now Available https://www.hunton.com/business-immigration-insights/trump-gold-card-now-available Ian P. Band trump-gold-card-now-available Fri, 12 Dec 2025 09:00:03 -0500 The Trump Gold Card announced by Executive Order in September 2025 is now available.  The Gold Card is touted as fast-track to lawful permanent residence compared to the normal employment- or family-based permanent residence process. 

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]]> State Department Adds H-1B/H-4 Visa Applicants to Expanded Online Presence Screening List https://www.hunton.com/business-immigration-insights/state-department-adds-h-1b-h-4-visa-applicants-to-expanded-online-presence-screening-list Ian P. Band state-department-adds-h-1b-h-4-visa-applicants-to-expanded-online-presence-screening-list Fri, 05 Dec 2025 09:00:04 -0500 The State Department announced that as of December 15, 2025, applicants for H-1B and H-4 (dependent) visas at US consular posts will undergo advanced screening of their online presence.  This expanded screening is already in place for those applying for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas as of June 2025.  

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]]> USCIS Pauses Adjudication of Benefit Requests and Review of Previously-Approved Benefits for Individuals from 19 Countries https://www.hunton.com/business-immigration-insights/uscis-pauses-adjudication-of-benefit-requests-and-review-of-previously-approved-benefits-for-individuals-from-19-countries Ian P. Band uscis-pauses-adjudication-of-benefit-requests-and-review-of-previously-approved-benefits-for-individuals-from-19-countries Fri, 05 Dec 2025 09:00:05 -0500 On December 2, 2025, in response to the shooting of 2 national guardsman in Washington, DC by an Afghan national, USCIS issued a national security policy memo suspending the adjudication of petitions and applications for immigration-related benefits for those from 19 “high-risk” countries, as well as re-reviewing previously-approved benefits for individuals from those countries (Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela). 

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]]> December 2025 Visa Bulletin – A Year-end Gift of Movement https://www.hunton.com/business-immigration-insights/december-2025-visa-bulletin-a-year-end-gift-of-movement Suzan Kern, Carol Schlenker december-2025-visa-bulletin-a-year-end-gift-of-movement Thu, 20 Nov 2025 09:00:06 -0500 The State Department has published the December Visa Bulletin.  While all categories stalled in November, December will see all priority dates progressing modestly, from 1 week to 2 months.  

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]]> Webinar Invite – Preparing for 2026: The Evolving Landscape of Business Immigration and Compliance https://www.hunton.com/business-immigration-insights/webinar-preparing-for-2026-the-evolving-landscape-of-business-immigration-and-compliance Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP webinar-preparing-for-2026-the-evolving-landscape-of-business-immigration-and-compliance Mon, 03 Nov 2025 09:00:07 -0500 Join us for an in-depth examination of the current and future business immigration landscape as we analyze trends from 2025 and look towards 2026. This webinar will provide participants critical insight into executive orders, USCIS trends, and compliance strategies, enabling businesses and professionals to prepare for the upcoming year.

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]]> Federal Government Shut Down Affecting Some US Immigration Agencies https://www.hunton.com/business-immigration-insights/federal-government-shut-down-affecting-some-us-immigration-agencies Ian P. Band federal-government-shut-down-affecting-some-us-immigration-agencies Thu, 02 Oct 2025 09:00:08 -0400 Congress was unable to avert the first government shutdown in six years as the clock struck midnight last night raising questions from companies and individuals about the impact on US immigration operations.

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]]> DHS Issues Proposed Regulation to Change the H-1B Lottery https://www.hunton.com/business-immigration-insights/dhs-issues-proposed-regulation-to-change-the-h-1b-lottery Ian P. Band dhs-issues-proposed-regulation-to-change-the-h-1b-lottery Thu, 25 Sep 2025 09:00:09 -0400 On September 24, 2025, DHS issued a proposed regulation to change the annual H-1B visa lottery from a random lottery of registrants to a weighted system favoring those offered higher salaries by US employers. 

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]]> The White House’s H-1B Proclamation - What Employers and Workers Need to Know About the New $100,000 Fee https://www.hunton.com/business-immigration-insights/the-white-houses-h-1b-proclamation-what-employers-and-workers-need-to-know-about-the-new-100-000-fee Sanjee Weliwitigoda the-white-houses-h-1b-proclamation-what-employers-and-workers-need-to-know-about-the-new-100-000-fee Mon, 22 Sep 2025 09:00:10 -0400 In a rapidly evolving situation broadly impacting the business immigration community, the White House issued a proclamation on Friday, September 19, 2025, implementing significant restrictions on H-1B entry and introducing a $100,000 fee requirement. The situation has been marked by initial confusion followed by crucial clarifications.

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