The U.S. visa application center in India has announced that effective August 1, 2025, third-party/representative passport collection service will be discontinued. The announcement indicates that this is to ensure the safety and security of the passports and confidential documents of visa applicants If applicant has opted for collection of passport/documents, then, the applicant is required…

The consular posts world-wide revised the eligibility criteria for renewal of visa through the drop box (interview waiver program) earlier this year. Applicants eligible for the drop box are now required to submit the passport for renewal at least 15 calendar days prior to the expiry of 12 months from the date of expiry of…

The U.S. Department of State has implemented a major policy change requiring all F (academic), M (vocational), and J (exchange visitor) visa applicants to make their social media profiles public for vetting. This immediate requirement adds a new layer of scrutiny to the visa application process. The stated goal is to enhance national security by…

The US Visa Scheduling portal < https://www.usvisascheduling.com > has recently rolled out some much-anticipated features aimed at improving the user experience for Indian applicants. Below is a quick look at the key enhancements: 1. Instant Fee Activation for UPI/QR Code Payments One of the most welcome changes is the instant activation of the visa fee when paid via UPI or…

The U.S. Department of State has announced that the annual cap for Employment-Based Fourth Preference (EB-4) visas has been reached for Fiscal Year 2025. No more EB-4 immigrant visas will be issued until October 1, 2025. Impact on EB-4 Applicants ⁠⁠Visa Issuance Halted, no new EB-4 visas will be issued by U.S. embassies and consulates…

From Jan 2025, no interview dates were available for B1/B2 visa applicants in India. In person interview slots for B1/B2 category has opened for May 2026 in New Delhi and Hyderabad. Applicants may schedule the appointment, however, it is important to remember that only one reschedule is permitted since Jan 2025. Appointments can be scheduled…

We understand that some nonimmigrant visa applicants who were scheduled to appear for an interview at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi were turned back today, Tuesday, March 4, 2025 owing to a technical glitch on the Embassy’s end. Applicants were given another specific date and time for the interview. Some were rescheduled to Thursday,…

As part of ongoing updates to visa processing services, the premium document delivery and submission service fee will be revised to INR 1,200 per application, effective February 24, 2025. This change impacts all applicants utilizing premium document handling services, including those who opted for the service prior to this date. Key Details of the Fee Revision: Effective Date: February…

US Immigration Law Firm News Update: FY 2026 H-1B Cap Registration – Key Dates & Important Updates The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially announced the initial registration period for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 H-1B cap. Below are the key highlights and updates that employers and prospective petitioners must note. H-1B Registration…