Making America Safe Again: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services End-of-Year Review Demonstrates Impact of Rigorous Immigration Crackdown

Under the leadership of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and USCIS Director Joseph Edlow, the agency has enhanced immigration screening and vetting protocols to protect communities and national security and has advanced immigration policies that put the national interest first.

WASHINGTON— As the end of 2025 approaches, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services would like to highlight key accomplishments for the year, including enhanced screening and vetting of aliens, increased coordination with our Department of Homeland Security immigration enforcement partners, and common-sense regulatory and policy changes that restore integrity to America's immigration system. Explore the highlights in this <a target='_blank' href="https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/brochures/USCIS_2025_EndofYearReview_508.pdf" d

USCIS Clarifies Requirements for Professional Athletes

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today issued policy guidance (PDF, 309.13 KB) in Volume 6 of the USCIS Policy Manual to address the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) adoption of the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) system, and its effect on certain immigrant visa petitions filed on behalf of professional athletes. This update continues our goal of restoring integrity to

DHS Ends the Abuse of the Humanitarian Parole Process and Terminates Family Reunification Parole Programs

The Department of Homeland Security is terminating all categorical family reunification parole (FRP) programs for aliens from Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras, and their immediate family members.

This administration is ending the abuse of humanitarian parole which allowed poorly vetted aliens to circumvent the traditional parole process. 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. Ending the FRP programs is a necessary return to common-sense policies and a return to America First.

The desire to reunite families does not overcome the government's responsibility to prevent fraud and abuse and to uphold national security and public safety. The FRP programs had security gaps caused by insufficient vetting that malicious and fraudulent actors could exploit

DHS Announces the Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopia

After careful consideration and deliberation of country conditions, the secretary is terminating Ethiopia's designation for TPS. 

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced her decision to terminate the Temporary Protected Status designation of Ethiopia. 

"Temporary Protected Status designations are time-limited and were never meant to be a ticket to permanent residency," said a USCIS spokesperson. "Conditions in Ethiopia no longer pose a serious threat to the personal safety of returning Ethiopian nationals. Since the situation no longer

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Establishes New Center to Strengthen Immigration Screening and Target Bad Actors

New vetting center will focus on powerful screening resources to keep America safe

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the establishment of a specialized unit to strengthen the ability of America's immigration system to screen out terrorists, criminal aliens, and other foreign nationals who pose potential threats to public safety or who have committed fraud or other crimes. Once fully operationalized, the USCIS Vetting Center, headquartered in Atlanta, will centralize the enhanced vetting of aliens and allow the agency to respond more nimbly to changes in a shifting threat landscape.

"USCIS' role in the nation's immigration system has never been more critical. In the wake of several recent incidents of violence, including a foreign national attacking National Guard service members on U.

USCIS Updates Policy on Biometrics for Detainees

We are updating USCIS Policy Manual Volume 1, Part C to deter the filing of frivolous claims and provide operational consistency. This update clarifies that the Department of Homeland Security generally will not take biometrics of detained aliens unless they are in removal proceedings and have a pending application or petition filed with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. This guidance is effective immediately and applies to requests pending or filed on or after the publication date.

The policy guidance:

• Reiterates that USCIS does not approve requests to collect biometrics from aliens or other persons who are detained or incarcerated in any jail, prison, or simil

Visa Bulletin February 2026 Predictions

For official January 2026 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-january-2026.aspx

Please see February 2026 Visa Bulletin Predictions below (for both Family Based and Employment Based categories for all countries):

Family Based:

Final Action Dates

Dates For Filing Applications

"Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	08DEC16	08DEC16	08DEC16	01NOV06	01APR13
F2A	08APR24	08APR24	08APR24	01APR23	08APR24
F2B	15DEC16	15DEC16	15DEC16	08MAR09	01FEB13
F3	15OCT11	15OCT11	15OCT11	15MAY01	15MAY05
F4	22JAN08	22JAN08	22NOV06	01MAY01	01OCT06

"Date for Filing Application" is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	01NOV17	01NOV17	01NOV17	01NOV07	08JUN15
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01MAY17	01MAY17	01MAY17	01MAR10	08NOV13
F3	08AUG12	08AUG12	08AUG12	08JUL01	01APR06
F4	01APR09	01APR09	01JAN07	22MAY01	15FEB08