- Posts by Abigail Walsh
PartnerAbigail Walsh has over 20 years’ experience in a wide range of immigration matters. She represents multinational and domestic corporations, their employees and private individuals in business immigration matters before U.S ...
On January 14, 2026, Reuters reported that the State Department will suspend immigrant visa processing (green card processing) for individuals from 75 countries. According to the State Department’s official X account, “The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing ...
DHS Announces Weighted Selection Process for FY27 H-1Bs
On December 29, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule implementing a weighted selection process applicable to H-1B petitions. The new rule will generally favor the allocation of cap-subject H-1B ...
Conduct Training on How to Administer an Employee’s Leave of Absence Pursuant to Applicable Laws and Policies.
Administering an employee’s leave of absence from work may be mishandled if managers are not trained to understand the applicable laws and the company’s policies. Human ...
On December 11, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the termination of family reunification parole for nationals from Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras and their immediate family members. Parole, and Employment Authorization ...
Ahead of the Holiday Travel Season, the DOS Expands Online Presence Review for H-1B/H-4 Visa Applicants
The Department of State (DOS) recently announced that starting on December 15, 2025, it will expand the requirement that an online presence review (also known as expanded vetting) be ...
USCIS First Issued a Policy Alert on Considering Country-Specific Facts When Adjudicating Benefit Requests; Days Later It Paused All Decisions for Nationals of Travel Ban Countries
In the wake of the November 26, 2025, shooting of national guard members in Washington, DC, USCIS updated its ...
USCIS Announces the End of the 540-day Automatic Extension for Work Permit Renewals Filed Beginning October 30
On October 30, 2025, the administration published an interim final rule (IFR) that eliminated the automatic extension of timely-filed work authorization applications (EADs) in ...
On October 30, 2025, the administration published an interim final rule (IFR) that eliminated the automatic extension of timely-filed work authorization applications (EADs) in eligible categories; the automatic 540-day extension period no longer exists. This is effective for all EAD ...
On October 20, 2025, USCIS updated its website to provide additional information about which applicants are subject to the $100,000 H-1B fee imposed by the September 19, 2025, Proclamation entitled Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers. Under the Proclamation, certain ...
Presidential Proclamation Bans Entry to the U.S. of Certain H-1B Nonimmigrants if $100k is Not Paid
On September 19, 2025, President Trump issued a proclamation restricting the entry of anyone seeking to enter or reenter the U.S. in H-1B status without payment of a new $100,000 fee. The ...