On March 25, 2026, the US Department of State (“DOS”) announced that beginning March 30, it is expanding its review of applicants’ online presence to include several additional nonimmigrant visa categories. The expanded screening update includes those applying for A-3, C-3 (for domestic workers), G-5, H-3 (and H-4 dependents of H-3 holders), K visas (K-1, K-2, K-3), as well as Q, R-1, R-2, S, T, and U visas. Visa applicants under these categories will now undergo a review of their publicly available social media and online activity. To facilitate this vetting, all applicants are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to “public.”
Read moreVisa Options for Chefs: Bringing Your Culinary Craft to the US
There’s something magical about the way food brings people together—across cultures, languages, and even visa categories. If you’ve ever been transported by a perfectly constructed biryani, a 12-course omakase, or a shockingly good roadside taco, you know that great food is a global experience. And behind those unforgettable meals are chefs—storytellers and artists whose medium is flavor, memory, and technique.
In this post, we’ll look at US visa options for chefs who want to bring their work to the United States. Whether you’re a rising talent looking for training opportunities, a seasoned executive chef leading a kitchen abroad, or an entrepreneur ready to launch your own restaurant, the US immigration system has a few solid pathways to explore. As always, this is a general guide—not legal advice—and if you’re a chef with serious plans to work in the US, it’s best to speak with an experienced immigration attorney (preferably one who also appreciates a good risotto and knows never to add cream to the carbonara!).
Read moreA Voice Cannot be Blocked
“Library for All” by Aseel Sawalha
This week, we went on a hunt for “Library for All” a creation by artist Aseel Sawalha which sits on the banks of the Hudson River in the northern stretch of the tranquil Riverside Park. Although we initially struggled to locate the sculpture, when we spotted the massive turquoise piece from the terrace overlooking the park, we rushed down the steps, leading us down to the banks of the river. Resembling a massive turquoise drill on a slight angle to burrow into the ground, the sculpture looks like it could teeter with just a slight gust of wind. Upon closer inspection, the piece is composed of sturdy found books arranged in different orientations to create its unique shape. The shape is no accident. Sawalha’s distinctly manmade form mirrors the industrial structures that disrupt the natural landscape. In conjunction with the natural materials present in the recycled writings that make up the piece, this installation on display through September 2026 is a must see for nature lovers and bookworms alike.
Immigrants in the Arts
"Chasing Rainbows" by Charlotte Colbert
As the weather begins to shift and hints of spring bring a renewed sense of optimism, we recently came across the two-part installation “Chasing Rainbows” by UK-based multimedia artist Charlotte Colbert, curated by New Public. Placed across New York’s Flatiron and Meatpacking neighborhoods, the towering sculptures invite passersby to pause amid the city’s constant movement and reconnect with a sense of curiosity and wonder about the world around them. Set in the shadow of the Flatiron Building, “Dreamland Sirens” takes the shape of a watchful eye supported by cascading mirrored tears that reflect the viewer and the surrounding city. With its unmistakable resemblance to the protective evil eye motif found across many cultures, we like to think it might also be quietly keeping watch over all of us. Nearby, “Where Angels Live” appears as a steel tree adorned with talismans and symbols representing meaning across cultures, religions, and personal beliefs. Together, the sculptures evoke protection, reflection, and perhaps a hopeful signal that brighter days lie ahead.
True Strength
“Love-ego= Lov Couple 1/4 wo/man” by Pavel (Pasha) Radetzki
This week, we set out on a downtown art pilgrimage through Lower Manhattan, chasing the vivid silhouette of “Love-ego = Love Couple 1/4 wo/man” by Pavel (Pasha) Radetzki located in Thomas Paine Park. Tucked into the city’s Civic Center, the sculpture immediately commands attention with its vivid color and striking form: two figures, each missing a quarter of their bodies. Radetzki’s choice of the missing fraction is intentional. It reflects the devastating population loss in the Paless’e or Polesia marshlands, Radetzki’s homeland along the Belarus–Ukraine border. By physically removing part of each figure, the artist makes absence visible, transforming statistics into something human and deeply felt. The work becomes not just a sculpture, but a quiet call for peace and remembrance. The placement of the sculpture adds even more resonance. Located near the historic sites of the Small Collect Pond and the African Burial Ground and set against the imposing backdrop of the New York State Supreme Court, the piece invites reflection on justice, memory, and our collective responsibility to confront humanitarian loss.
Words Matter
“Even Still” by Almond Zigmund
After this week’s thrilling blizzard, we found ourselves drawn to a pop of color amidst the yet again snow-covered landscape. Located in Bella Abzug Park within the Hudson Yards neighborhood, we braved the slush and wind to visit the eye-popping installation “Even Still” by New York based artist Almond Zigmond. Rising above the walkways of the park, the sculpture is an emblem of contrast in both its shape and coloring. Drawing from her inspirations of geometry as a simultaneously unifying and destabilizing force, Zigmond creates an experience of tension for the viewer. The soft curves of the structure are offset by straight, unyielding lines in bright colors which adorn it. Instead of yielding to the discomfort of dissonance, “Even Still” encourages us to embrace the natural contradictions that embody each of us and our environment to find harmony.