Visa Lawyer Blog
Published by San Diego Immigration Attorney — Jacob J. Sapochnick
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Latest posts
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U.S. Citizenship Approvals Drop 75% as Naturalization Delays Increase
The Trump administration has significantly slowed the naturalization process, with 73% fewer citizenship applications decided over the past year. These delays are leaving thousands of immigrants waiting longer to become U.S. citizens. US Citizenship and Immigration Services’…
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75-Country Visa Pause Update: Only 318 Visa Approvals as Thousands Remain Delayed
The Trump administration’s 75-country immigrant visa pause may be over following a federal court ruling, but thousands of previously refused applications remain unresolved. In an October 5, 2026 court filing, the State Department revealed that only 706 affected applications were…
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November 2026 Visa Bulletin: Key Changes for Employment-Based and Family-Sponsored Categories
The U.S. Department of State has released the November 2026 Visa Bulletin, announcing several significant changes to employment-based and family-sponsored immigrant visa categories. This month’s bulletin features one-year advancements in several family-sponsored categories for…
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DHS Allows Ukraine and Sudan TPS Protections to Continue as Expiration Deadline Approaches
Thousands of Ukrainian and Sudanese immigrants will retain their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections for now, despite their current designations being scheduled to expire on October 19, 2026. On October 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed…
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Federal Judge Orders Reopening of 2027 Diversity Visa Lottery Registration By November 1st
A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Department of State to reopen registration for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery, following delays and suspension of the program. On October 14, 2026, the U.S. District Court for…
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DHS Finalizes Streamlined Immigration Civil Penalty Procedures
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) have finalized a rule making it easier and faster for the government to impose civil monetary penalties for certain immigration violations. The rule applies to noncitizens who: Willfully fail or refuse to…
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DHS Proposes $70,000 Fee for F-1 Student OPT Program
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a major change to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program for F-1 international students. Under a proposed rule published on October 8, 2026, schools would be required to pay a $70,000 fee the first time an F-1 student…
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Federal Judge Blocks $100,000 H-1B Fee
A federal judge in California has blocked the Trump administration from enforcing policies that required certain employers to pay a $100,000 fee when filing new H-1B petitions. On September 30, 2026, U.S. District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr. granted a preliminary injunction in…
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Public Charge Changes Took Effect September 18, 2026: What Green Card Appplicants Need to Know
Major changes to the public charge policy took effect on September 18, 2026, changing how USCIS evaluates individuals applying for permanent residence in the United States. The new policy gives immigration officers more discretion to consider government benefits and an…
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October 2026 Visa Bulletin: Massive Advancements for China Dates for Filing, Worldwide EB-2 and EB-3 Retrogress
We are pleased to report that the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has published the October 2026 Visa Bulletin. In this blog post, we breakdown the movement of the employment-based and family-sponsored categories in the coming month. Adjustment of Status…