Nine 2025 Green Card Rule Changes That Could Shape 2026 Residency

(UNITED STATES) — The Department of Homeland Security imposed a mandatory biometric entry-exit system on December 26, 2025, requiring all noncitizens, including Lawful Permanent Residents, to provide facial biometrics when entering and leaving the United States.

The final rule, published by DHS on October 27, 2025, applies at all U.S. ports and removes earlier exemptions for certain travelers, including Canadian citizens and diplomats.

Key implementation dates and fee changes

• Biometric entry-exit system: Implemented December 26, 2025. Facial biometrics required for all noncitizens on entry and exit.
• Revised USCIS fee schedule: Takes effect January 1, 2026; USCIS will begin rejecting filings that do not include the new required fees starting that date.
• H-1B selection redesign: New “weighted” selection process takes effect February 27, 2026 (for the FY 2027 Cap).

USCIS tied the revised fee schedule to funding enforcement and paying down national debt under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1). A federal judge recently upheld a $100,000 supplemental fee for certain H-1B petitions under the new schedule, reflecting USCIS’s shift toward enforcement and debt reduction.

Impact on applicants and travelers

For people seeking a Green Card, renewing Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), or applying for U.S. citizenship, the combined effect of the new rules means:

• Tighter compliance requirements
• Higher costs
• More frequent screening

DHS described the biometric entry-exit requirement as a universal obligation for noncitizens, explicitly including Green Card holders, through facial biometrics collected on entry and exit. Travelers who had previously expected exemptions will now face the same biometric check-ins as other noncitizens at ports of entry and departure.

USCIS has warned that revised fees begin immediately in 2026, and applicants are required to pay the new amounts starting January 1, 2026, to avoid rejection.

H-1B changes and employer impact

• The H-1B random lottery is replaced by a weighted selection that prioritizes applicants at the highest Department of Labor wage levels.
• The new selection method takes effect February 27, 2026 (for the FY 2027 cap).
• USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser framed the change as protecting U.S. workers, saying:

“The existing random selection process. was exploited and abused by U.S. employers who were primarily seeking to import foreign workers at lower wages. The new weighted selection will. [incentivize] American employers to petition for higher-paid, higher-skilled foreign workers.” (12/23/2025)

A notable financial change under the new fee schedule is the $100,000 supplemental fee for certain H-1B petitions — a prominent element of the updated costs employers may face.

Employment Authorization Documents (EADs)

• In December 2025, USCIS reduced the maximum validity period for most EAD categories to 18 months.
• This reverses prior approaches that had allowed 5-year EADs in many cases.
• USCIS described the shorter validity as a means to increase the frequency of vetting and prevent what it viewed as long-term work authorization without repeated screening.

Enhanced vetting and targeted reviews

USCIS imposed enhanced vetting requirements in December 2025 for applicants from 19 high-risk countries. Key elements include:

• Officers instructed to consider “negative country-specific factors” during adjudication.
• Expanded social media mining covering the previous five years.
• Requirement for “neighborhood investigations” for certain benefit requests.
• The list of countries includes Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, and Syria, and the requirement is framed as a mandatory consideration for officers.

Parole programs and humanitarian policies

DHS moved throughout 2025 to end broad humanitarian parole initiatives, including the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan (CHNV) parole programs and broad family reunification paroles.

• The phaseout occurred throughout 2025, with a final 2026 implementation described in DHS actions terminating those programs.
• DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the change returned parole to its original statutory design:

“Parole was never intended to be used in this way, and DHS is returning parole to a case-by-case basis as intended by Congress.” (12/22/2025)

New investor pathway: “Gold Card” visa

Announced September 19, 2025, the administration introduced a new investor-focused pathway:

• “Gold Card” visa for high-net-worth individuals.
• $1 million contribution to the Department of Commerce for expedited immigrant visas, or $2 million via a corporation.
• Purpose described as channeling private wealth into U.S. industrial growth while offering an accelerated residency route for investors.

USCIS posture shift toward enforcement

USCIS updated its mission in a Policy Manual update in July 2025, confirming a role as an immigration enforcement agency. The update empowered officers to issue Notices to Appear (NTAs) at unprecedented levels.

• Since January 20, 2025, USCIS has issued approximately 196,600 NTAs.
• These NTAs place individuals in removal proceedings immediately upon the denial of an immigration benefit.
• Denials leading to NTAs have included benefits such as Green Cards and TPS renewals.

For applicants who previously viewed USCIS primarily as a benefits-processing agency, the NTA policy means a denial can now trigger removal proceedings rather than simply ending an application.

Naturalization changes

USCIS tightened naturalization (N-400) requirements in 2025:

• A more comprehensive 2025 Civics Test, which USCIS said will fully impact 2026 applicants.
• Stricter reviews of “Good Moral Character”, instructing officers to scrutinize “positive contributions” and investigate minor infractions, including traffic rule disregard or open financial judgments.

Summary of the nine key shifts described by DHS/USCIS

The agencies’ materials summarize nine major changes that reflect a transformation described as moving from “processing” to “policing” within USCIS. Highlights include:

• Mandatory entry-exit facial biometrics for all noncitizens (including LPRs).
• Reduced EAD validity to 18 months for most categories.
• New fee schedule effective January 1, 2026, including a $100,000 supplemental H-1B fee.
• Weighted H-1B selection effective February 27, 2026 (FY 2027).
• Enhanced vetting for applicants from 19 high-risk countries (social media mining and neighborhood investigations).
• Termination of CHNV parole programs and broad family reunification paroles.
• Introduction of the “Gold Card” investor pathway ($1M individual or $2M corporate).
• USCIS mission redefined to prioritize enforcement and issuance of NTAs (≈ 196,600 NTAs since 1/20/2025).
• Stricter naturalization civics testing and Good Moral Character reviews.

Practical consequences going into 2026

• The biometric entry-exit system introduces a recurring compliance point even for Lawful Permanent Residents.
• Shorter EAD validity periods require more frequent renewals and vetting.
• The revised fee schedule adds a direct financial barrier to filings beginning January 1, 2026.
• Weighted H-1B selection places wage level at the center of the process rather than chance.
• Enhanced vetting for certain countries may involve deeper scrutiny of applicants’ digital and local activities.
• The termination of broad parole programs reduces temporary entry pathways previously available.
• The Gold Card offers an expedited residency route for wealthy investors.
• The expanded issuance of NTAs ties everyday adjudications more directly to removal proceedings.
• Citizenship applicants will face a more demanding civics test and stricter character reviews.

Official sources and further reading

The agencies have pointed the public to official updates and policy descriptions through:

• USCIS Newsroom
• DHS Official Updates
• Federal Register
• USCIS policy guidance

As 2026 begins, the combination of the new biometric entry-exit system, the revised fee schedule, and an enforcement-centered USCIS posture will shape how immigrants travel, file, and seek status in the United States.