Insights

The law moves. Here is what it means for your case.

Plain-language notes on marriage green cards, citizenship, and the rules that change around them. Written by the attorney, dated, with the official sources linked at the bottom of every one.

What changed

Policy updates.

New rules and decisions, what date they take effect, and who they touch.

Sep 18, 2026 Criminal Immigration & Permanent Residence
A New Aggravated-Felony Rule Can Block a Green Card: What Matter of A-V-O- Means

The BIA created a separate immigrant inadmissibility ground for covered aggravated-felony convictions arising from pleas or jury verdicts after September 17, 2026.
Sep 17, 2026 Removal Defense & Detention
Immigration Bond Can Be Denied Without a Conviction: What Matter of Kamalov Means

The BIA confirms that alleged conduct can establish danger even without a conviction, and that a state release order does not control the immigration bond decision.
Sep 16, 2026 Citizenship at Birth & Permanent Residence
DHS Restored the Green Card Evidence List for U.S.-Born Children of Foreign Government Employees

The correction restores the filing evidence DHS accidentally deleted. It does not lift the citizenship injunction or make every U.S.-born child in the category eligible.
Sep 15, 2026 Students, Exchange Visitors & Media
The Fixed-End-Date Rule Is Blocked. Duration of Status Remains for F, J, and I Nonimmigrants.

A federal court postponed DHS's fixed-end-date rule nationwide one day before it was due to take effect. Learn what remains in force while the case continues.
Sep 14, 2026 Asylum & Immigration Court
Similar Asylum Declarations Can Be Compared: What Matter of V-S-A- Means

The BIA permits redacted statements from other cases in credibility review, but applicants still must have notice, an opportunity to explain, and a full-record assessment.
Sep 13, 2026 Family Immigration & Visa Availability
F2A Is Current for Filing in September 2026. That Is Not a Green Card Approval.

Spouses of permanent residents may be able to file this month, but final-action dates still control visa issuance. See the separate rules for U.S. adjustment and consular cases.
Sep 12, 2026 Employment Immigration & Seasonal Workers
USCIS Closed the First-Half FY 2027 H-2B Cap. What Employers and Workers Can Still Do.

September 4 was the final receipt date for new cap-subject petitions requesting employment before April 1, 2027. Learn which filings can still proceed and how to plan for the second half.
Sep 11, 2026 Employment Immigration & Status Maintenance
DHS Proposes Ending the 60-Day Grace Period After Job Loss. It Is Still Available Today.

The proposal covers H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, and several E classifications. Learn what remains available now and how workers, dependents, and employers can plan.
Sep 10, 2026 Temporary Protected Status & Work Authorization
El Salvador TPS Remains in Effect After September 9. EAD Guidance Is Still Missing.

DHS says Salvadoran TPS holders remain protected while a formal decision is pending. Learn why work authorization continues but employer document instructions still matter.
Sep 9, 2026 Immigration Enforcement & Taxpayer Privacy
IRS Tax Records and ICE: What the September 8 Court Ruling Blocks

A federal appeals court kept the IRS-ICE bulk tax-address procedure blocked. Learn what the order protects, what it leaves open, and why filing rules have not changed.
Sep 8, 2026 Asylum & Changed Country Conditions
Venezuelan Asylum After Maduro: What Matter of A-E-V-M- Changes

A new BIA precedent requires Venezuelan asylum claims to address current conditions and individual risk. It does not automatically end every claim.
Sep 5, 2026 Removal Proceedings & Address Changes
A Stale Address Can Support an In Absentia Removal Order: What Matter of Diji Changes

A new en banc BIA decision allows DHS to rely on an address supplied before removal proceedings began. Learn why USCIS and immigration-court address updates must be handled separately.
Sep 4, 2026 Diversity Visa & Consular Processing
The Diversity Visa Pause Returned: What DV-2026 Selectees Can Still Do Before September 30

The State Department ended one DV pause and announced another. Learn what processing continues, why September 30 controls, and how consular and USCIS cases differ.
Sep 3, 2026 Citizenship at Birth & Family Immigration
Birthright Citizenship: What the September 2 Court Order Protects

The September 2 injunction protects a defined nationwide class of U.S.-born children. Learn who is covered, how to prepare citizenship documents, and what remains unresolved.
Sep 2, 2026 USCIS Processing & Federal Courts
USCIS Processing Holds: Who the Red Eagle Court Order Protects

The August 24 class order restores ordinary processing for covered USCIS applications. Learn the eligibility limits, why there is no fixed decision deadline, and how to follow up.
Sep 1, 2026 Asylum & Federal Courts
Ninth Circuit Rejects the 2023 Asylum Rule: What Garcia Morales Means

The August 31 ruling rejects the 2023 asylum presumption. Learn which entry dates and cases may be affected, why geography matters, and which deadlines remain.
Aug 31, 2026 Naturalization & USCIS Investigations
USCIS Formalizes Neighborhood Investigations: What N-400 Applicants Should Expect

The August 25 policy applies to pending and new naturalization cases. Learn what USCIS may verify, how waivers work, and when character letters may help.
Aug 30, 2026 Consular Processing & Court Orders
The 75-Country Immigrant Visa Pause Is Over. What Applicants Should Do Next.

The nationality-based pause ended August 21. Learn what happens to refused and pending cases, and which public-charge and travel restrictions still apply.
Aug 29, 2026 Removal Defense & Detention
A Final Removal Order Changes the Bond Forum: What Matter of W-F-D- Means

A new BIA precedent says immigration judges generally cannot conduct ordinary bond redeterminations after a removal order becomes final. Learn which custody-review routes remain.
Aug 27, 2026 Employment Immigration
The Proposed $103,265 H-1B Fee: What Employers and Workers Should Know

The six-figure charge is not in effect. Learn which petitions the proposal would cover, what is exempt, and how to plan before the September 24 comment deadline.
Aug 26, 2026 USCIS Filing Deadline
New Forms I-539 and I-765 Are Required September 15. There Is No Grace Period.

USCIS will reject the older editions based on the mailing or online-submission date. Here is how to choose the right form and avoid a preventable rejection.
Aug 25, 2026 Marriage Green Card Process
Marriage Green Card Medical Exam: Form I-693 Rules in 2026

When to obtain the immigration medical exam, what vaccination evidence to bring, and how to protect the sealed Form I-693.
Aug 24, 2026 Consular Processing
The State Department's $750 Paid Visa Expedite: What It Buys and What It Does Not

The State Department's 2026 pilot offers some B-visa applicants an interview within 10 business days for $750. Learn the locations, limits, and risks.
Aug 23, 2026 Advance Parole & Unlawful Presence
Advance Parole After Matter of Delcarmen-Lara: The Ten-Year Bar Risk Has Changed

A precedential BIA decision says advance-parole travel can trigger the ten-year unlawful-presence bar after August 13, 2026. Learn who should pause before travel.
Aug 22, 2026 Student & Exchange Status
Background: DHS's 2026 Fixed-End-Date Rule for F, J, and I Status

The rule described in this August analysis was postponed nationwide on September 14, 2026 and did not take effect. This page now preserves its terms as background.
Aug 21, 2026 USCIS Filing Rules
USCIS Can Require Online Filing Now. Paper Forms Are Not Gone Yet.

USCIS can require certain forms to be filed online after notice. Learn what the August 11, 2026 rule changes, what remains voluntary, and how waivers work.
Aug 20, 2026 Policy Update
September 18 Is Not Just a Form Deadline. It Changes the Public-Charge Rule.

A practical guide to the September 18, 2026 Form I-485 edition change, the new public-charge framework, and the risks of a rejected filing.

What stays true

Practical guides.

The mechanics that decide cases: evidence, interviews, sponsorship, travel, timing.

Reading is free. So is finding out where you stand.

Ten minutes, online. You hear the answer either way.

Start the screening

The law moves. Here is what it means for your case.

Policy updates.

A New Aggravated-Felony Rule Can Block a Green Card: What Matter of A-V-O- Means

Immigration Bond Can Be Denied Without a Conviction: What Matter of Kamalov Means

DHS Restored the Green Card Evidence List for U.S.-Born Children of Foreign Government Employees

The Fixed-End-Date Rule Is Blocked. Duration of Status Remains for F, J, and I Nonimmigrants.

Similar Asylum Declarations Can Be Compared: What Matter of V-S-A- Means

F2A Is Current for Filing in September 2026. That Is Not a Green Card Approval.

USCIS Closed the First-Half FY 2027 H-2B Cap. What Employers and Workers Can Still Do.

DHS Proposes Ending the 60-Day Grace Period After Job Loss. It Is Still Available Today.

El Salvador TPS Remains in Effect After September 9. EAD Guidance Is Still Missing.

IRS Tax Records and ICE: What the September 8 Court Ruling Blocks

Venezuelan Asylum After Maduro: What Matter of A-E-V-M- Changes

A Stale Address Can Support an In Absentia Removal Order: What Matter of Diji Changes

The Diversity Visa Pause Returned: What DV-2026 Selectees Can Still Do Before September 30

Birthright Citizenship: What the September 2 Court Order Protects

USCIS Processing Holds: Who the Red Eagle Court Order Protects

Ninth Circuit Rejects the 2023 Asylum Rule: What Garcia Morales Means

USCIS Formalizes Neighborhood Investigations: What N-400 Applicants Should Expect

The 75-Country Immigrant Visa Pause Is Over. What Applicants Should Do Next.

A Final Removal Order Changes the Bond Forum: What Matter of W-F-D- Means

The Proposed $103,265 H-1B Fee: What Employers and Workers Should Know

New Forms I-539 and I-765 Are Required September 15. There Is No Grace Period.

Marriage Green Card Medical Exam: Form I-693 Rules in 2026

The State Department's $750 Paid Visa Expedite: What It Buys and What It Does Not

Advance Parole After Matter of Delcarmen-Lara: The Ten-Year Bar Risk Has Changed

Background: DHS's 2026 Fixed-End-Date Rule for F, J, and I Status

USCIS Can Require Online Filing Now. Paper Forms Are Not Gone Yet.

September 18 Is Not Just a Form Deadline. It Changes the Public-Charge Rule.

Practical guides.

Naturalization Civics and English Tests in 2026: What Applicants Should Expect

Naturalization After International Travel: Continuous Residence and Physical Presence

Form I-864 for a Marriage Green Card: Income, Household Size, and Joint Sponsors

Travel While a Marriage Green Card Application Is Pending: Advance Parole and Form I-485

Removing Conditions After a Marriage Green Card: A Practical Form I-751 Guide

What to Prepare Before Speaking With an Immigration Lawyer

Why Family Sponsorship Strategy Starts Before the Forms

Marriage Green Card Evidence Should Tell a Coherent Story

Preparing for a Marriage-Based Green Card Interview

Naturalization: Why a Clean-Looking Case Still Deserves Review

What Case Strategy Should Actually Mean in Immigration Law

Reading is free. So is finding out where you stand.