POLICY & ANALYSIS

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Application guides, policy context and the details behind immigration decisions.

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Fees, forms & filing

USCIS Interim Final Rule: Applications With Invalid Signatures May Be Denied Without Refund Starting July 10

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services implemented an interim final rule effective July 10, 2026, amending 8 CFR 103.2(a)(7). The article explains how the rule strengthens USCIS's authority to deny applications with invalid signatures and its discretion over whether to retain filing fees; it also lists the types of signatures USCIS considers valid and invalid, and reminds employers, petitioners, applicants, and immigration practitioners to carefully verify signatures before submission.

Report3 min read
Work authorization & students

Federal Judge in California Orders USCIS to Resume Processing I-765 Work Permit Applications

A federal magistrate judge in San Jose, California, partly granted a preliminary injunction ordering USCIS to resume processing I-765 work permit applications from 39 countries, rejecting the government's claim that the policy memos are shielded from judicial review. The ruling follows a similar decision in Rhode Island, where a federal judge struck down four related policies.

Report3 min read
Green cards & adjustment

New US Green Card Rule Takes Effect in July: Minor Errors Such as Invalid Signatures May Lead to Denial

This article covers a new DHS rule announced in May and effective in July allowing USCIS to deny already-accepted green card applications for errors such as invalid or missing signatures, with fees lost and the process restarted. It also notes an internal USCIS memo on discretionary case-by-case review, exhausted annual limits in some categories in the July 2026 Visa Bulletin, and restrictions expected to last through September 30.

Report2 min read
Employment & work visas

USCIS Clarifies Green Card Policy for H-1B Holders: Overseas Processing Is Default, Some May Apply in the US if It Serves Economic or National Interest

USCIS has clarified last week's policy memo: adjusting status in the US is no longer the norm, with overseas consular processing now the default. Some H-1B holders may still apply for green cards without leaving the US if their applications serve economic or national interests, while others may be required to apply from abroad.

Report2 min read
Citizenship & naturalization

USCIS Tightens 'Good Moral Character' Review for Naturalization Applicants, Focusing on Illegal Voting and False Citizenship Claims

This article introduces two naturalization policy updates issued by USCIS in August 2025: first, immigration officers are required to assess an applicant's good moral character through a more comprehensive 'holistic analysis,' weighing positive factors alongside evidence of rehabilitation after misconduct; second, guidance on illegal voter registration, illegal voting, and false claims to citizenship is tightened, clarifying that such conduct may cause an applicant to fail the good moral character assessment, and citing relevant provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act to explain the relationship between Notices to Appear and N-400 adjudication. The article also reviews the history and legal basis of the good moral character requirement.

Report3 min read
Work authorization & students

DHS Issues Final Rules on H-1B and EAD, Set to Take Effect in Mid-January 2025

The article covers two final rules DHS issued in December 2024: permanent extension of EAD automatic extensions to up to 540 days, effective January 13, 2025, and the H-1B modernization rule effective January 17, 2025, addressing specialty occupation criteria, cap exemptions, beneficiary-owners, site visits and third-party placement.

Report7 min read
Work authorization & students

Several U.S. Universities Issue Travel Advisories Urging F-1 Students to Return Before Jan. 20, 2025

The article reviews travel advisories issued by Cornell, UPenn, MIT, Boston University, Northwestern, and other universities to international students on F-1 and J-1 visas, explains the origin of the January 20 date, analyzes potential entry screening risks from tightened immigration policies in Trump's second term, and compiles a pre-travel checklist including visa document checks, renewal appointment scheduling, monitoring school notices, and avoiding mid-semester departures.

Report6 min read
General policy

USCIS Unveils New Statue of Liberty Logo

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a new logo on September 25 featuring the Statue of Liberty and the phrase "Upholding America's Promise," replacing the previous eagle emblem. Director Ur Jaddou said it reflects the agency's culture and values. The article also reviews the 2022 mission statement and the stricter visa extension reviews during the Trump administration.

Report2 min read
Green cards & adjustment

USCIS Extends Green Card Validity to 36 Months for Pending I-90 Renewal Applications

USCIS announced that starting September 10, 2024, for lawful permanent residents who properly file Form I-90 to renew their green cards, the validity period of their green cards is automatically extended to 36 months, up from 24 months. The revised receipt notice, together with the expired green card, can serve as evidence of continued status and work authorization; if the green card is no longer held, individuals may contact the contact center to schedule an in-person office interview and may receive an ADIT stamp.

Report2 min read
Green cards & adjustment

Green Card Recipients by Country of Origin in 2022: Mexico and India Lead

Citing Office of Homeland Security Statistics data, this article reports that 1,018,340 people received U.S. green cards in 2022 and lists the top 15 countries of origin. It highlights Mexico, with 138,772 recipients, and India, with 127,012, which together accounted for about 26 percent of the year's total. It also reviews Mexico's long-standing position as the largest source country, the rebound in Indian immigration after pandemic-era travel restrictions, and other major sources including China, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and the Philippines, while noting global competition for skilled talent and the policy debates facing the U.S. immigration system.

Report4 min read

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