United States: General Immigration

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed a substantial $103,000 fee for cap-subject H-1B visa petitions, potentially creating significant financial barriers for employers, particularly small businesses. Meanwhile, the Department of State has paused immigrant visa processing across 75 countries for consular officer training, following a federal court decision that vacated the Administration's previous suspension of immigrant visa issuance.

El Departamento de Seguridad Nacional de Estados Unidos propone eliminar el período de gracia de 60 días que permite a trabajadores extranjeros con visas E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-1B1, L-1, O-1 y TN permanecer legalmente en el país después de perder su empleo. Esta medida podría obligar a los trabajadores a salir inmediatamente o cambiar su estatus migratorio sin el tiempo adicional que actualmente tienen para buscar un nuevo empleador o preparar su salida.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed eliminating the 60-day grace period that currently allows certain foreign workers to remain in the United States after their employment ends. This change would affect workers in E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-1B1, L-1, O-1, and TN visa categories, as well as their dependent family members, requiring them to depart immediately or secure new status when employment terminates.

Federal courts continue to address important questions surrounding immigration detention and the constitutional rights of individuals facing removal proceedings, questions that have taken on new urgency as several federal appellate courts have recently expanded the government’s authority to mandatorily detain certain noncitizens without a bond hearing.

Over the past two weeks, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has transferred a large volume of pending EB-5-based Form I-485 adjustment of status applications from the California Service Center (CSC) to the Texas Service Center (TSC). Immediately following transfer, some applicants are receiving Requests for Evidence (RFEs) seeking Form I-693 medical examinations and providing 30 days to respond.

President Trump's executive orders targeting birthright citizenship have created unprecedented uncertainty for international intended parents pursuing surrogacy in the United States. With the legal landscape shifting rapidly and US citizenship no longer guaranteed for babies born through commercial surrogacy arrangements, families at every stage of their journey must now navigate complex contingency planning involving alternative passports, immigration status, and constitutional challenges.

A federal district court has struck down the U.S. Department of State's prohibition on immigrant visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries, finding it violates federal immigration law and the Administrative Procedure Act. The ruling requires the Department to resume visa processing for affected individuals, though the decision remains subject to appeal or potential stay.

Immigration enforcement targeting restaurants and hospitality businesses has intensified dramatically, with ICE audits surging tenfold in 2025 and federal agencies pursuing both criminal charges against employers harboring undocumented workers and discrimination claims against those demanding excessive documentation from legal residents. How are restaurant operators navigating this dual compliance challenge while facing workforce contraction from terminated humanitarian programs?

The State Department is pausing immigrant visa interview appointments while consular officers receive updated public-charge training. The agency has not publicly announced the duration or precise scope of this pause.