Legal
Court rulings, regulatory changes, and legal precedents shaping immigration law. Coverage of federal circuit decisions, BIA appeals, injunctions, and enforcement litigation that affect visa holders and applicants.
Sponsors Face Fines, Prosecution under 2025 USCIS Public Benefit Rules
USCIS’s 2025 memo holds sponsors legally liable if sponsored immigrants receive means-tested benefits; agencies can seek reimbursement and unpaid bills may trigger lawsuits and criminal investigations. Effective August 2025, the…
Dubai fines Dh152.24m, deports 161 in residency visa scam
On September 26, 2025, Dubai’s court fined 161 people Dh152.24 million and ordered deportations for orchestrating residency visa…
Gurdev Singh Sohal Denaturalized After Fingerprint Link
Gurdev Singh Sohal lost U.S. citizenship after a 2020 fingerprint match tied his aliases to a 1994 deportation…
Green Card Travel Rules: Re-entry Permits and Absence Limits
Permanent residents can travel but must preserve U.S. ties and intent. Absences of 6–12 months often lead to…
Grassley Demands End to OPT for F-1 Students Amid Tensions
Sen. Grassley urged DHS to end OPT work authorizations for F-1 students, threatening 12–36 month post-study work rights.…
White House Walks Back $100,000 H-1B Fee for New Petitions Only
The White House says the $100,000 H-1B fee applies only to new petitions filed after September 21, 2025;…
Dignity Act and HIRE Act: Higher FICA for OPT Wages
Congress is reviewing the Dignity Act, ending FICA exemptions for OPT students, and the HIRE Act, adding a…
Court Upholds PGWP Denial for Non-Final Semester Part-Time Status
A court affirmed IRCC’s PGWP refusal after a student studied part-time in a non-final semester, confirming only the…
Judge Dismisses Boulder FAA Lawsuit as Premature; Airport Fate Unclear
A federal judge dismissed Boulder’s 2024 lawsuit against the FAA as premature on September 19, 2025. The ruling…
Handling Stock Options, RSUs, and ESPP When Exiting the U.S. on H-1B
Before leaving the U.S., H‑1B workers must review equity grant terms: unvested RSUs often forfeit, ISOs typically need…