The U.S. Department of State has expanded its B-1/B-2 Visa Bond Pilot Program effective April 2, 2026, adding 12 new countries to the list of nationals who may be required to post a refundable bond as a condition of visa issuance. Background: The Visa Bond Pilot Program was introduced through a temporary final rule and…

Following the recent impasse on H-1B visas, the U.S. Visa Scheduling portal has made some changes to the visa scheduling module. The system has reorganized some of the visa categories and added new event-specific category.  Background:  While scheduling a non-immigrant visa appointment, H and L visas were grouped together under the “H & L” category. This included…

The U.S. Consular Exchange Rate has been adjusted to INR 94 per US dollar. This modification will impact both non-immigrant and immigrant visa fees, as well as charges for services provided to U.S. citizens. It may be recalled that the previous rate was INR 92 per US dollar and this was revised on September 29,…

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued an interim final rule on January 14, 2026 aimed at reducing visa wait times for thousands of religious workers abroad, a move expected to ease staffing challenges for faith-based organizations across the United States.  Under the new policy, the longstanding one-year foreign residency requirement for certain…

The U.S. Department of State (DoS) recently announced an indefinite suspension of processing of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries. The US DoS has noted that migrants from these countries are likely to rely on U.S. public welfare programs. This suspension in processing of immigrant visas is a part of an expanded enforcement of…

The new DHS rule replaces the purely random H‑1B cap lottery with a wage‑weighted selection system that significantly improves the odds for higher‑paid, higher‑skilled positions starting with the FY‑2027 cap season. Employers will need to adjust registration, wage, and compliance strategies now to remain competitive and avoid misrepresentation findings in future cap filings. Key features…

Following a U.S. Presidential Proclamation issued on December 18, 2025, the U.S. Mission to India has announced updated closure dates for the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and all Consular Posts across India. Revised Holiday Schedule In addition to the previously scheduled closure for Christmas Day on Thursday, December 25, 2025, the U.S. Embassy and…

The U.S. Department of State has announced significant visa and entry restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.” These measures take effect January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST.  Full Suspension of Visa Issuance Visa issuance is fully suspended for nationals of the…

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a significant policy shift aimed at enhancing national security and ensuring the integrity of identity documents. Effective December 12, 2025, the agency has tightening the rules regarding the photographs used for official immigration documents, such as Green Cards and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). Key Changes to Photo…