On January 14, 2025, the US Department of State (“DOS”) announced its intention to pause the processing of immigrant visas indefinitely for nationals of seventy-five countries, including Brazil, Iran, Russia, Pakistan, and Somalia. The suspension is set to take effect on January 21, 2026, and applies only to immigrant visas, which are used by individuals seeking lawful permanent residence (commonly known as Green Cards) through family sponsorship, employment, or other pathways. The suspension does not apply to nonimmigrant visas, including tourist visas or temporary work visas. DOS also specified that nationals of affected countries may still apply for and interview for immigrant visas, but no visas will be issued during the pause. Furthermore, dual nationals using a passport from an unaffected country are exempt, and no previously issued immigrant visas have been revoked. The administration has not indicated how long this temporary pause will be in effect.
Read moreTrump Expands Travel Ban
On December 16, 2025, President Trump executed a Presidential Proclamation expanding administration’s full and partial suspensions of immigrant and nonimmigrant visa issuance announced this past June to an additional twenty countries and the Palestinian Authority. With this expansion, there are now more than 35 countries subject to US travel restrictions. The new travel ban will be effective as of January 1, 2026.
Read moreDiversity Visa Lottery 2027 Delay
If you follow the Diversity Visa Lottery as closely as we do, you may have noticed that there has been a delay in the Department of State’s announcement of registration dates for the Diversity Visa Lottery for Fiscal Year 2027 (“DV-2027”). However, DOS did share an announcement on November 5, 2025 that changes are coming to the 2027 DV lottery. One reassuring thing: if you’re eventually selected, nothing has changed about the application period. That window will still run from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027.
Read moreNew Policy Guidance for Extraordinary Ability Immigrant Applications
Is it easier to get a green card as a person of extraordinary ability given changes in United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) policy announced on October 2, 2024? The short but lawyerly answer is maybe. What is certain is that the new updates to the USCIS Policy Manual provided clarifications on the types of evidence that may be used to demonstrate eligibility for the extraordinary ability (E11) classification under the EB-1 immigrant visa. The EB-1 visa, specifically the E11 category, is an immigration pathway for individuals with extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, education, business, or athletics. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate that they have reached the top of their field, with sustained national or international acclaim.
Read moreDiversity Visa Lottery for Fiscal Year 2026 (DV-2026)
It’s that time of year again! The Diversity Visa Lottery for fiscal year 2026 (“DV-2026”) is live and has begun accepting registrations effective Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 12:00 noon (EDT). The registration period for the DV Lottery, as it’s commonly referred to, concludes on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at 12:00 noon (EST). Entries are only accepted electronically--paper entries through the US Postal Service will not be accepted. Keep in mind that the “law allows only one entry per person during each registration period.” Submitting multiple applications will result in disqualification, not better odds, and, yes, “the Department of State uses sophisticated technology to detect multiple entries.” It is recommended that foreign nationals not wait until the end of the period to apply as heavy demand could cause delays on the website.
Read moreNew Guidance on Immigration Medical Examination Validity Period
On April 4, 2024, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that effective immediately, any Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, which was properly completed and signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, does not have an expiration date. The service noted that the Form can be used indefinitely to evidence that the applicant is “not inadmissible on health-related grounds.” This determination was made by USCIS in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and “based on advances in public health electronic notification.”
Diversity Visa Lottery for Fiscal Year 2025 (DV-2025)
It’s that time of year again, The Diversity Visa Lottery for fiscal year 2025 (“DV-2025”) will begin accepting registrations at 12 noon EDT October 4, 2023. The registration period for the DV-2025 will conclude on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 12:00 noon (EST). It is recommended that foreign nationals not wait until the end of the period to apply as heavy demand could cause delays on the website. Entries are only accepted electronically, and not through the US Postal Service. Keep in mind that “law allows only one entry per person during each registration period” so submitting multiple applications will result in disqualification, not better odds, and yes, “the Department of State uses sophisticated technology to detect multiple entries.”
Read moreDiversity Visa Lottery for Fiscal Year 2024 (DV-2024)
It’s once again time for The Diversity Visa Lottery for fiscal year 2024 (“DV-2024”)! The online registration period for the DV-2024 began Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at 12:00 noon (EDT), and concludes on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at 12:00 noon (EST). It is recommended that foreign nationals not wait until the end of the period to apply as heavy demand could cause delays on the website. Entries are only accepted electronically , they will not be accepted through the U.S. Postal Service. Keep in mind that submitting multiple applications will result in disqualification, not better chances, and yes, “the Department of State uses sophisticated technology to detect multiple entries.”
Read moreAs the US Opens for International Travel, Some Remain in Limbo
As previously reported, international travel to the United States was reopened for vaccinated visitors on Monday, November 8, 2021, as a result of President Biden’s Presidential Proclamation. Previously, tourists and visitors who were physically present in the United Kingdom, Ireland, countries in the European Schengen Area, Brazil, China, India, Iran, and South Africa during the fourteen-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into US were subject to travel restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These restrictions, which barred entry for most non-US nationals have been officially lifted, for those who are fully vaccinated. Travel remains restricted for people who were vaccinated with non-WHO-approved vaccines, such as the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, and the Chinese CanSino vaccine.
Read moreDiversity Lottery for Fiscal Year 2023 (DV-2023)
Here we are again; it’s time for The Diversity Visa Lottery for fiscal year 2023 (“DV-2023”)! The online registration period for the DV-2023 Program began Wednesday, October 6, 2021, at 12:00 noon (EDT), and concludes on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at 12:00 noon (EST). It is recommended that foreign nationals not wait until the end of the period to apply as heavy demand could cause delays on the website. Additionally, entries will not be accepted through the U.S. Postal Service. Submitting multiple applications will result in disqualification, and yes, “the Department of State uses sophisticated technology to detect multiple entries.”
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