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 Reopens Deportation Cases Shelved Under Biden, Restarting Thousands
DHS reopened thousands of administratively closed deportation cases starting August 2025 and expanded expedited removal nationwide on January 21, 2025. ICE issued nearly 10,000 fines in July 2025. Increased mandatory…
New Trump Rule Could Let Married Immigrants Seeking Green Cards Be Deported
USCIS policy effective August 1, 2025, lets officers issue NTAs for marriage-based applicants; filing I-130 or I-485 doesn’t…
Dominican Republic National Pleads Guilty in Connecticut to Fraud, Immigration Crimes
On August 8, 2025, a Dominican national pleaded guilty in Connecticut federal court to fraud and immigration crimes.…
USCIS Rule Change Could Force Thousands of Indian Children Out of Green Cards
Effective August 15, 2025, USCIS will use Final Action Dates for CSPA age calculations, increasing aging-out risk for…
School Districts Start Using U.S. Citizenship Test in Classrooms
USCIS canceled the naturalization test redesign in January 2025 following 1,300+ public comments opposing multiple-choice and photo-description tasks.…
USCIS Aligns CSPA Age Calculation With Visa Bulletin Final Action Dates
Effective August 15, 2025, USCIS will use the Visa Bulletin Final Action Dates to calculate CSPA age; cases…
23 Days: ICE Doubles Alaska Arrest Rate Through June 2025 vs 2024
After an April 2025 policy raised ICE’s daily arrest quota to 3,000, Alaska saw 33 arrests and 23…
Rep. Jim Costa Pushes to Update Outdated U.S. Immigration Registry
Rep. Jim Costa proposes moving the registry cutoff date (unchanged since 1986) so long-term undocumented residents, including farm…
Court Ruling Threatens 90,000 DACA Recipients’ Work Permits in Texas
A Fifth Circuit decision on January 17, 2025, effective March 11, 2025, separates DACA work authorization from deportation…
USCIS Warns Employment-Visa Holders: Quit or No-Show Risks Deportation
USCIS alerted that H-2A and other employment-visa holders who don’t report or who abandon jobs and stay risk…