Business Immigration Insights

Prior to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 U.S. consular officers were able to process and approve many visa applications without interviews using the Dropbox procedure.  After 9/11, when it became known that several of the terrorists who carried out the attacks had received visas in Saudi Arabia without personal interviews, the Department of State seriously curtailed access to the Dropbox for visa issuance and renewals, limiting these to diplomatic and official visa applicants.

The State Department has published the April Visa Bulletin.  Categories that were grounded in March may finally stretch their wings in April, including EB-1 India, EB-3 Other Workers China, and EB-3 Professionals All Other Countries.  In addition, some categories that saw modest movement in March have gained momentum in April, most notably EB-2 China, which flew ahead almost 5 months, compared to only 16 days in March.

On March 7, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released an Interim Final Rule (IFR) implementing the Alien Registration Requirement announced by the agency in February. 

With the exception of two much earlier schemes – the Alien Registration Act of 1940, which registered 6 million noncitizens during World War II, and the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), which operated briefly after the 9/11 attacks – the term “registration” in the U.S. immigration system has been applied, in practice, only to the process of applying for permanent residence.  In fact, the green card is officially called an “Alien Registration Card” or “Alien Registration Receipt Card.”

In public remarks on Tuesday February 26th, President Trump spoke about a proposal for a new type of U.S. visa, a “Gold Card”. While the President did not go into details, he suggested that this new visa could be issued to companies or to individuals for $5 million per card.

As we approach the H-1B cap season for fiscal year 2026, it is crucial for employers and prospective H-1B candidates to stay informed about the registration process, important deadlines, and recent changes.

The landscape of immigration enforcement is undergoing a dramatic transformation in 2025. With President Trump's recent executive orders signaling a renewed focus on worksite enforcement, employers across industries must prepare for what many experts anticipate will be the most aggressive immigration enforcement environment in recent history.

The State Department has published the March Visa Bulletin.  After most priority dates froze in February, March promises modest thaws in all regions and most categories.

Effective January 1, 2025, Illinois employers face updated regulations under Public Act 103-0879, altering the landscape of E-Verify and Form I-9 compliance.

This post serves as a regularly updated resource to keep employers informed regarding TPS designations, extensions, cancellations, and other policy changes.  This post was last updated on February 25, 2025.