by James Pinedo | Jan 12, 2025 | Human Resources Services
Former U.S. Department of State (DOS) Chief of Immigrant Visa Control Charlie Oppenheim is WR Immigration’s Director of Visa Consulting. Mr. Oppenheim leads two webinars each month in his “Chatting with Charlie” series regarding current visa issues and...
by Frank Alvarado | Aug 8, 2025 | Immigration Updates
Legal Memorandum: A ten-point legal memorandum explaining the impact of the new CSPA guidance on Indian EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 adjustment applicants whose dependent children may age out, even when the adjustment of status (AOS) is filed under Chart B. To: Immigration...
by Frank Alvarado | Aug 8, 2025 | Immigration Updates
The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) helps certain children remain eligible for a Green Card past their 21st birthday, protecting them from “aging out” due to long processing delays. In February 2023, USCIS expanded this protection by allowing the Dates for Filing...
by Frank Alvarado | Aug 8, 2025 | Immigration Updates
For audio listeners, you can listen to our audio version of the News Digest here. TPS Termination Delayed for Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua Trump Indicates Ukrainians May Remain in U.S. for Now DOS Launches 12-Month Visa Bond Pilot for Certain B-1/B-2 Applicants ICE...
by Frank Alvarado | Aug 5, 2025 | Investor Visas
Our latest Chatting with Charlie webinar, hosted by WR Immigration Partner Joey Barnett and featuring Charlie Oppenheim, former Chief of the Visa Control at the U.S. Department of State, offered deep insight into EB-5 visa trends, processing challenges, and the...
by Frank Alvarado | Aug 1, 2025 | Global
WR Immigration’s July global immigration recap includes the latest developments on the UK’s biometric appointment availability, Portugal’s residence permit renewal portal, Argentina’s new entry requirements, and more. UK – New Eligibility...
by Frank Alvarado | Jul 31, 2025 | Immigration Updates
Administrative processing remains one of the most misunderstood causes of visa delays. The following five key points summarize recent guidance from AILA’s DOS Liaison Committee (Practice Pointer, July 30, 2025) and offer essential insight for clients and attorneys. 1....
by Frank Alvarado | Jul 30, 2025 | Immigration Updates
For audio listeners, you can listen to our audio version of the News Digest here. DHS Releases FAQs on Parole and TPS Changes for SAVE Verification Interview Waivers Significantly Restricted Effective September 2, 2025 USCIS Issues Implementation Plan for Executive...
by Frank Alvarado | Jul 28, 2025 | Immigration Updates
If you are a South African citizen living abroad, especially in the United States, it is critical to understand your legal obligations when it comes to travel documentation. Recent developments in South African citizenship law, combined with heightened enforcement at...
by Frank Alvarado | Jul 28, 2025 | Immigration Updates
Expedited removal is a powerful tool used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to deport noncitizens without a hearing summarily. It applies to individuals who: Lack valid entry documents or use fraud/misrepresentation. Are encountered within 100 miles of the...
by Frank Alvarado | Jul 23, 2025 | Immigration Updates
For audio listeners, you can listen to our audio version of the News Digest here. USCIS Announces New Fee Increases for Immigration Applications August Visa Bulletin: Retrogressions and Limited Availability Across Employment-Based Categories H-1B Cap Reached for FY...
by Frank Alvarado | Jul 21, 2025 | Immigration Updates
On Friday, July 18, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it received a sufficient number of petitions to meet the congressionally mandated H-1B cap for fiscal year (FY) 2026: 65,000 under the regular cap, and...
by Frank Alvarado | Jul 16, 2025 | Immigration Updates
Judge Blocks Birthright Citizenship Ban for Children of Noncitizens DHS Ends TPS for Honduras and Nicaragua DOJ Increases Fines for Immigration-Related Violations Judge Blocks Birthright Citizenship Ban for Children of Noncitizens On July 10, 2025, a federal judge...
by Frank Alvarado | Jul 9, 2025 | Immigration Updates
DOJ Signals Shift Towards Denaturalization and Local Immigration Enforcement Court Blocks Early Termination of TPS for Haiti USCIS Narrows TN Visa Eligibility Under New Policy Guidance New Immigration Fees and Restrictions Included in ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ DOJ...
by Frank Alvarado | Jul 8, 2025 | Global
The Home Office has confirmed that significant changes to the Skilled Worker immigration route, along with other sponsored work categories, will be implemented beginning on July 22, 2025. These updates were first announced in the Government’s immigration White Paper...
by Frank Alvarado | Jul 3, 2025 | Immigration Updates
As U.S. immigration policies shift toward stricter enforcement, HR teams and individuals applying for TN visas/status (under NAFTA/USMCA) need to be more prepared than ever. With the 2026 review of the USMCA trade agreement on the horizon and increasing scrutiny at...
by Frank Alvarado | Jul 2, 2025 | Immigration Updates
Court Limits Injunctions, Birthright Citizenship EO Still Advancing DHS Revokes EADs; New E-Verify Report Available Middle East Tensions Disrupt U.S. Visa Services OFLC Releases Updated List of Professional Occupations for PERM Court Limits Injunctions, Birthright...
by Frank Alvarado | Jun 30, 2025 | Immigration Updates
Q: What did the Supreme Court decide in CASA v. Trump on June 27?A: On June 27, the Supreme Court ruled that federal district courts generally do not have the authority to issue nationwide injunctions, orders that halt federal policies across the country. Instead,...
by Frank Alvarado | Jun 30, 2025 | Immigration Updates
The U.S. Department of State has significantly revised the Foreign Affairs Manual which provides guidance to consular officials to implement a stricter interpretation of the law which bars immigrant visa issuance to members and affiliates of the Communist Party or any...
by Frank Alvarado | Jun 30, 2025 | Global
WR Immigration’s June global immigration recap includes the latest developments on Israel’s automatic visa extensions, Portugal’s expired residence permit validity, Spain’s re-entry permit waiver, Poland’s restrictions on posted workers, and more. Israel –...
by Frank Alvarado | Jun 27, 2025 | Immigration Updates
The Supreme Court issued an important decision today in cases challenging President Trump’s Executive Order on birthright citizenship. The Court limited its decision to federal courts’ ability to issue nationwide injunctions, allowing the government to...
by Frank Alvarado | Jun 26, 2025 | Immigration Updates
U.S. Resumes Student and Exchange Visitor Visa Processing with New Social Media Screening Requirements Trump Orders Expansion of ICE Worksite Raids OFLC Issues Reminder: H-2B Filing Window for October Start Date Opens July 3 Trump Administration Weighs Expanding...
by Frank Alvarado | Jun 24, 2025 | Immigration Updates
The State of Global Mobility in 2025 By Emilie Hyams and Ceridwen “Ceri” Koski Disclaimer: These are individual comments/points of view from experts in the field based on their professional experiences which do not necessarily reflect companies’ or...
by Frank Alvarado | Jun 23, 2025 | Immigration Updates
The U.S. government has expanded social media screening in visa processing. As of June 18, 2025, the State Department now requires F-1, M-1, and J-1 visa applicants to set their social media profiles to “public.” This builds on policies introduced under the first...
by Frank Alvarado | Jun 18, 2025 | Immigration Updates
Visa Processing Resumes for Harvard International Students CHNV Parole Programs Terminated Following Supreme Court Ruling USCIS Updates Validity of Medical Exams for Green Card Applications DHS Offers Fine Forgiveness for Self-Deportation via CBP App July 2025 Visa...
by Frank Alvarado | Jun 12, 2025 | Immigration Updates
Court Temporarily Blocks Visa Ban on Harvard Students DHS Launches Visa Overstay Crackdown After Colorado Attack TPS for Nepal and Cameroon Ending in August USCIS Proposes New Biographic and Employment Data Collection Washington Bans Immigration-Based Workplace...
