USCIS
Processing time trackers, fee schedule changes, form updates, and policy memos from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Covers service center operations, office closures, and adjudication trends.
Top questions about USCIS
Answers from VisaVerge guidesWhat new policies were introduced by USCIS in 2025?
New policies included stricter naturalization testing and the termination of multiple humanitarian parole programs.
Read: USCIS End-of-Year Review Highlights Rigorous Immigration Enforcement ActionsWhat enforcement approach did DHS and USCIS implement as of January 2026?
DHS and USCIS implemented a zero-release and mandatory detention approach as of January 3, 2026, pushing longer immigration detention and fewer releases while deportation cases move through the system.
Read: How Long Can Immigration Detention Last Before Deportation Under Current LawWhat actions were taken by federal agencies in January 2026 that affected immigration processes?
On January 14, 2026, the Department of State (DOS) paused immigrant visa processing for 75 countries effective January 21, 2026. On January 15, 2026, USCIS announced Operation PARRIS to re-examine refugee cases for fraud/security.
Read: Family Self-Departs U.S. After 11-Year Green Card Backlog ReckoningWhat actions should people take if they have a pending immigration application due to recent policy changes?
People with pending applications should know their rights, gather documents, contact legal help, check their status, and stay informed about updates from official sources.
Read: Debate Intensifies Over Military’s Expanding Role in Immigration PolicyWhat changes did the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announce in 2025?
USCIS announced inflation adjustments that increased premium processing fees, with Form I-129 increasing from $2,805 to $2,965 and Form I-140 rising to $2,965.
Read: UK Government Hikes Immigration and Visa Fees, Canada and Germany GainDHS Expands USCIS Enforcement Authority, Not a Shift Toward Offenders
A DHS final rule (Sept. 5, 2025) expands USCIS authority into enforcement—detentions, warrants, removals, and special agents—raising concerns about expedited removal use, training, safeguards, and impacts on immigrants, employers, and…
Marriage-Based Green Card Applicants Face New Challenges and Arrests
In 2025 USCIS tightened marriage-based green card processing with stricter intake checks, form-edition enforcement, more RFEs, and increased…
H-1B Delays Leave Applicants in Limbo Amid Interview Backlog
Following the December 15, 2025 expansion of the Online Presence Review, U.S. consulates in India are canceling and…
ICE Warns on Self-Deportation for Illegal Immigrants via CBP Home App
ICE is encouraging undocumented immigrants without criminal records to use the CBP Home app for voluntary departure, warning…
Faith Leaders Call for Release of LGBTQ Asylum Seeker Detained
Hernandez, a 33-year-old Honduran asylum seeker, was detained by ICE during a Green Card interview in Houston. His…
Trump Reshapes USCIS to Accelerate Deportation Efforts and Enforcement
USCIS has halted discretionary benefits for nationals of 19 countries and paused all asylum applications, launching a re‑review…
US Adds 15 Kenyans to DHS’s ‘Worst of the Worst’ Deportation List
DHS added 15 Kenyans to a public “Worst of the Worst” deportation list within a new database of…
Federal agents spotted in Gonzales amid Louisiana immigration crackdown
Short videos from early December 2025 show federal agents in Gonzales and Livingston Parish, Louisiana. No agency has…
2026 EB Green Card Outlook: Slow Progress and Regional Backlogs
Employment-based green card timelines in 2026 remain constrained: EB-2 India faces the worst delays and retrogression risk, EB-1…
H-4 EAD in 2026: Processing Times, Delays, and What Improves
H-4 EADs are still available in 2026 but processing is slower and less predictable. Eligibility requires H-4 status…