✦ Curated by Everest Muse
Legal migration pathways and educational visas — green cards, work visas, and F-1 student rules.
USCIS confirmed employment-based green card applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart for September 2026; final action dates for EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 and EB-5 are unchanged from August, EB-2 India remains unauthorized, and the State Department warns EB-1 India, EB-2 (all countries) and EB-5 Unreserved could retrogress or become unavailable before the fiscal year ends September 30. Ogletree Deakins
A coalition of six local governments led by New York City — joined by Chicago, San Francisco, Santa Clara County, Seattle and King County — sued in Manhattan federal court to vacate the expanded public-charge rule, arguing it unlawfully rewrites immigration law, gives officers unbounded discretion over which benefits count against applicants, and could frighten eligible families away from assistance. USA Today
Twenty-two states plus D.C. and a city coalition sued in the Southern District of New York to block the expanded public-charge rule set to take effect September 18, which would let officers deny green cards or visas over receipt of any means-tested benefits — including benefits used by a family member. CNN
A new USCIS policy memo reframes adjustment of status as a discretionary "extraordinary" benefit, directing officers to weigh visa overstays, parole violations and other immigration-law noncompliance more heavily — hitting workers, students and family applicants already in the country. Bloomberg Law
DHS published a proposed rule that would eliminate the discretionary 60-day grace period for H-1B, L-1, O-1, E-1/E-2/E-3, H-1B1 and TN workers whose employment ends — plus their dependents. Laid-off workers would fall out of status the day employment ends, while the current rule stays in effect until a final rule is issued. USA Today
Following a district court order in Medani v. Trump, USCIS is resuming adjudication of certain pending adjustment-of-status applications under the FY2026 Diversity Visa program — a rare opening for DV selectees. Green Card Maker
Family-based green card petitions are stalling: the State Department paused immigrant visa interviews at embassies and consulates globally to train staff on a new applicant-screening policy. Couples — including those from countries hit by an earlier immigrant-visa pause covering 75 nations — face uncertain timelines. USA Today
Immigrant visa processing restarted in Hungary and Poland, but the broader suspension affecting dozens of countries continues, alongside expanded social-media vetting for applicants. Reuters
Some 170,000 Salvadoran TPS holders — about 152,000 in the US workforce — retain protection while DHS weighs its decision, after TPS was ended for nationals of several other countries. Reuters
A revived rule lets officers weigh a wider set of means-tested public benefits — and benefits used by family members — when deciding green card applications. It takes effect September 18. CNN
USCIS approved 8.3 million applications in 2025 vs 11.4 million in 2024. Employment-based petitions dropped 26%, humanitarian 69%, green-card approvals 16% — while family-based approvals rose 8%. USA Today
Starting September 15, USCIS will reject older editions of the I-539 and I-765 outright as the final rule ending "duration of status" for F and J visas takes effect; extension-of-stay requests now go directly to USCIS rather than through school officials. USCIS
Under the new framework, undergraduates are limited to 4 years and master's students to their program's exact duration. Students needing more time must apply to USCIS for an extension; first-year major changes and transfers are restricted; off-campus work authorization now requires it to be a graduation requirement. WAMC
New F-1, M-1 and J-1 issuances fell sharply — India down 57%, China 28%, Nepal 55%, Ghana 52%. Since many students later transition to H-1B work visas and green cards, experts warn the drop will cascade for years. ICEF Monitor
The final rule caps admission at the program length (max 4 years), requires USCIS extension applications with biometric vetting, cuts the post-OPT grace period from 60 to 30 days, and restricts Day-1 CPT for second degrees at the same level. Dept. of Homeland Security