Updates

DHS has imposed a mandatory, non-refundable $1,000 Immigration Parole Fee, effective October 16, 2025, which must be paid at the Port of Entry by nearly all individuals being paroled into the U.S., including those with advance parole, unless they meet one of ten specific statutory exceptions.

The U.S. Department of State has effectively terminated the broad Interview Waiver Program for nonimmigrant visa renewals, making mandatory in-person consular interviews the new standard for nearly all visa categories (H-1B, L-1, F-1, etc.) as of September 2, 2025.

USCIS has updated its policy manual to clarify that for family-based I-130 petitions, all spousal relationships—including same-sex and virtual marriages—must be legally valid where celebrated and proven to be bona fide (genuine and not for immigration purposes) through strong evidence, effective immediately for all pending and new filings.

USCIS is increasing the difficulty of the naturalization process by implementing the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test, which has a larger question bank and a higher passing threshold for all applicants who file Form N-400 on or after the critical cutoff date of October 20, 2025.

The U.S. Department of State has issued a major policy shift requiring nonimmigrant visa applicants to seek interviews in their country of nationality or residence, severely limiting the ability of third-country nationals to apply elsewhere and introducing higher risks of refusal without proof of local long-term ties.

USCIS has announced changes to the naturalization test that will take effect in late 2025.