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USCIS Offers Premium Processing for Expedited Immigration Decisions

USCIS Offers Premium Processing for Expedited Immigration Decisions

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides an optional service known as Premium Processing, designed to accelerate the review of specific immigration petitions and applications. By filing Form I-907 and paying an additional government fee, applicants are guaranteed that USCIS will take adjudicative action within a predetermined timeframe. This service is available for various categories, including nonimmigrant workers (H-1B, H-3, L-1, O-1, E-1, E-2, E-3, TN, P, Q), temporary agricultural and religious workers (H-2B, R), employment-based immigrant petitions (EB-1A, EB-1B, PERM-based EB-2 and EB-3), multinational executives and managers (EB-1C), National Interest Waiver (EB-2 NIW), and change of nonimmigrant status (F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-1, M-2). The guaranteed processing windows vary by category, ranging from 15 to 45 business days, with corresponding government fees. For instance, nonimmigrant worker petitions (Form I-129) have a 15-business-day window and a fee of $2,965, while change of n...

USCIS Clarifies O-1 Visa Media Coverage Requirements for Extraordinary Ability Petitions

USCIS Clarifies O-1 Visa Media Coverage Requirements for Extraordinary Ability Petitions

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has provided clarification on what constitutes qualifying media coverage for O-1 visa petitions, particularly for individuals demonstrating extraordinary ability. The agency emphasizes editorial independence as a core principle, distinguishing between genuine editorial interest and arranged or paid-for content. The strongest evidence is an independent editorial feature where the applicant is the subject, such as a reported profile in a major news or trade outlet. Substantive attributed quotes in major publications and podcast interviews with documented audiences can also qualify. Conversely, press releases, company blog posts, or funding announcements written by the applicant's own team are generally considered weak and often rejected. USCIS does not specify a minimum number of articles, with one strong piece in a well-regarded publication potentially satisfying the criterion. The coverage must be about the individual's background, expertise, and contributi...

USCIS Increases EB-5 Investor Visa Fees, Doubling Costs for Regional Center Petitions

USCIS Increases EB-5 Investor Visa Fees, Doubling Costs for Regional Center Petitions

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has finalized a rule significantly increasing government filing fees for EB-5 investor petitions, effective November 30. Form I-526E, used by regional center investors, will now cost $7,850, a substantial rise from its previous $3,675. Standalone investors filing Form I-526 will pay $7,615. These increases apply to any filing postmarked on or after the effective date. Overall, fees across existing EB-5 forms will see a weighted average increase of 70.7%. The new fee structure includes a $75 technology fee, authorized by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA), to fund the agency's filing systems. Mona Shah of Mona Shah & Associates suggests that while the increase is significant, it is unlikely to deter families seeking a green card through this program, advising those ready to file to do so before November 30 to avoid the higher costs. This fee adjustment follows a previous attempt in April 2024 that was stayed by a federal court due to the absence of a pr...

U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Arizona's Bid to Delay Prison Healthcare Takeover

U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Arizona's Bid to Delay Prison Healthcare Takeover

The U.S. Supreme Court has denied Arizona's request to postpone a court-ordered takeover of healthcare operations within its state prisons. Justice Elena Kagan rejected the state's eleventh-hour appeal, clearing the way for an outside corrections professional to assume management of healthcare for approximately 25,000 incarcerated individuals starting October 19. This decision follows over a decade of litigation and complaints that Arizona's prison healthcare system provided constitutionally inadequate care, leading to harm and preventable deaths among prisoners. Arizona had sought a delay to appeal the decision and the appointment of former Ohio corrections director Annette Chambers-Smith to lead the effort, but lower courts had already rejected these requests. The state's prison healthcare system has been under scrutiny for 14 years, with accusations of shoddy and callous operations and a consistent failure to implement required improvements.

U.S. Supreme Court Denies Arizona's Bid to Delay Prison Healthcare Takeover

U.S. Supreme Court Denies Arizona's Bid to Delay Prison Healthcare Takeover

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected Arizona's request to delay the court-ordered takeover of healthcare operations in its state prisons. Justice Elena Kagan denied the state's application, clearing the way for an outside corrections professional to assume management of healthcare for 25,000 incarcerated individuals on October 19. This decision comes after Arizona was found to have provided constitutionally inadequate healthcare to prisoners and had failed to implement required improvements for over a decade. The state had sought to delay the takeover while appealing the decision and the appointment of former Ohio corrections director Annette Chambers-Smith to lead the effort, but lower courts had already rejected these requests. The lawsuit, filed in 2012, has seen Arizona accrue over $2 million in contempt-of-court fines for failing to comply with a 2014 settlement agreement aimed at overhauling medical services for prisoners.

Immigration Judge Rescinds Deportation Order for Kentucky State University Basketball Player

Immigration Judge Rescinds Deportation Order for Kentucky State University Basketball Player

An immigration judge has granted a motion to reopen immigration proceedings and rescind a deportation order for Aminata Seck, a Kentucky State University women’s basketball player from Senegal. Seck was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on August 7 at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport while attempting to travel with her team. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Seck legally entered the U.S. in 2019 but overstayed her welcome, leading to a removal order a year prior after she failed to appear at an immigration hearing. However, her attorney, Hishem Alsalman, confirmed that the immigration judge found Seck did not receive proper notice of the previous proceedings. Seck, a 26-year-old from Dakar, Senegal, will remain in ICE custody pending her new hearing scheduled for November 26. She was a standout player, named to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference Third Team and awarded the SIAC Women’s Basketball Elite 16 for her academic an...

USCIS Adjusts Immigration Fees for FY 2027, Affecting Asylum, TPS, and Parole Applicants

USCIS Adjusts Immigration Fees for FY 2027, Affecting Asylum, TPS, and Parole Applicants

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced inflation-based adjustments to certain immigration fees for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027, effective for filings postmarked on or after October 16, 2026. These changes, mandated by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), primarily impact petitions related to asylum, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and parole. The fee increases range from $3 to $30, reflecting a 3.36% rise in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) between July 2025 and July 2026. For example, the Immigration Parole Fee (Form I-131) will increase from $1,020 to $1,050, and the Initial TPS EAD (Form I-765) will rise from $560 to $570. USCIS has stated that any applications submitted with incorrect payment amounts after the effective date will be rejected, potentially causing significant delays for applicants.

U.S. Asylum Eligibility Requires Proof of Persecution and Timely Application

U.S. Asylum Eligibility Requires Proof of Persecution and Timely Application

In the United States, eligibility for asylum is contingent upon an individual meeting the legal definition of a refugee. This means the applicant must demonstrate an inability or unwillingness to return to their home country due to past persecution or a well-founded fear of future persecution. Persecution is defined as more than mere harassment; it encompasses severe harm such as threats, violence, imprisonment, or torture. This harm must be linked to one of five protected grounds: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Additionally, applicants generally face a strict one-year deadline from their last arrival date in the U.S. to file their asylum application, though limited exceptions exist for changed or extraordinary circumstances.

Judge extends diversity visa processing, blames State Dept.'s 'glacial pace'

Judge extends diversity visa processing, blames State Dept.'s 'glacial pace'

The State Department must keep processing visas for 10 days after a judge found its slow response left thousands racing against a hard deadline.

Supreme Court to Review Mandatory Detention Policy for Long-Term Immigrant Residents

Supreme Court to Review Mandatory Detention Policy for Long-Term Immigrant Residents

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review a significant immigration dispute concerning the Trump administration's mandatory detention policy for long-term immigrant residents. This policy, implemented by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in July 2025, mandates the detention of all individuals who entered the country without legal admission, including those paroled, while they undergo removal proceedings. This applies regardless of how long they have resided in the U.S., and it restricts bond hearings to only those immigrants who were initially admitted but later lost their legal status. The administration is seeking to overturn an appeals court ruling that found this policy cannot treat long-term residents the same as individuals attempting to enter the country. The case before the Supreme Court stems from the detention of Ricardo Aparecido Barbosa da Cunha, a Brazilian man who was detained in Massachusetts after residing in the U.S. for over a decade and was initially denied a bond hearing.

USCIS Announces FY 2027 Inflation Adjustments to H.R. 1 Immigration Fees, Effective October 16, 2026

USCIS Announces FY 2027 Inflation Adjustments to H.R. 1 Immigration Fees, Effective October 16, 2026

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced inflation adjustments to certain immigration fees for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027, as mandated by H.R. 1, the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act,' signed by President Trump on July 4, 2025. These adjustments, which reflect inflation between July 2025 and July 2026, will take effect on October 16, 2026. The increases are modest, ranging from $3 to $30, and primarily affect humanitarian programs such as asylum, parole, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS). For instance, the Immigration Parole Fee (Form I-131) will increase from $1,020 to $1,050, and the Initial TPS EAD (Form I-765) will go from $560 to $570. USCIS will reject any filing postmarked on or after October 16, 2026, that does not include the new, correct fee amount. Some fees, such as the I-589 initial asylum fee and certain EAD renewals, will remain unchanged due to statutory rounding rules or because they are not subject to annual inflation adjustments.

Arizona Attorney General Files Consumer Fraud Lawsuit Against Pharmacy Benefit Managers Over Opioid Crisis

Arizona Attorney General Files Consumer Fraud Lawsuit Against Pharmacy Benefit Managers Over Opioid Crisis

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced on Thursday that her office has filed a consumer fraud lawsuit against Express Scripts and Optum, two of the largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in the United States. The lawsuit alleges that these PBMs contributed to the opioid crisis by driving up drug prescriptions. According to Mayes, Express Scripts and Optum leveraged their market power and access to real-time prescription data to increase opioid prescribing for over two decades. The companies are accused of secretly negotiating rebate deals with opioid manufacturers, such as Purdue Pharma, to grant preferred status to drugs like OxyContin. In exchange, the lawsuit claims that Express Scripts and Optum bypassed standard safeguards, including prior authorization or step therapy, which would typically regulate opioid prescriptions. Attorney General Mayes stated that these actions violated Arizona law and jeopardized the health and safety of Arizonans, asserting that the PBMs designed their formularies ...