DHS Proposes Additional H-1B Fee

WASHINGTON— The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing to establish a $103,265 fee for all H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption. The proposed fee would be paid at the time of filing and would be imposed in addition to all other applicable fees or payments.

The proposed fee would generate revenue to recover a portion of the federal government’s costs for administering the lawful immigration system. These costs include adjudication of immigration benefits, fraud detection and national security vetting, systems modernization, records and fee collection operations, immigration court operations, consular visa processing, labor standards enforcement, and interagency coordination. DHS estimates the proposed fee would generate approximately $8.8 billion annually, based on a projected annual volume of 85,000 H

USCIS to Publish New Edition of Form I-485; Older Editions Will Be Rejected Starting Sept. 18

On Sept. 18, 2026, USCIS will publish a revised edition of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (edition date: 09/18/26). The form has been revised to align with the recently announced Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Final Rule.

The 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485 replaces the 01/20/25 edition of Form I-485.

USCIS is providing a preview version of the 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485 and its instructions because there is no grace period for accepting the revised edition of Form I-485. Do not file the 09/18/26 e

USCIS Issues Guidance on Making Public Charge Inadmissibility Determination

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing updated guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual explaining how the agency will determine whether an alien applying for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident is likely at any time to become a public charge.

On July 16, 2026, DHS announced a final rule that rescinds the 2022 Biden-era public charge inadmissibility regulations. The final rule was formally published in the Federal Register on July 20, 2026, and goes into effect on Sept. 18, 2026. The updated guidance aligns with congressional intent that aliens in the United States be self-sufficient and not dependent on taxpayer-funded government benefits.

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Denaturalization Case Filed Against Man Who Procured U.S. Citizenship Under False Identity

WICHITA, Kan. — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided crucial support to an investigation resulting in charges to denaturalize a man born in India for using a false identity to become a U.S. citizen. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas made the announcement. 

Charges were filed in the District of Kansas to denaturalize Harinder Singh, a.k.a. Harinder Singh Sanghera a.k.a. Rushpal Singh of Olathe, Kansas, for unlawfully procuring U.S. citizenship. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the citizenship of a naturalized U.S. citizen may be revoked, and certificate of naturalization canceled, if the naturalization was illegally procured or procured by concealment of a

USCIS To Require Electronic Filing of Forms: Strengthening National Security

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is introducing an interim final rule (IFR) that allows U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to mandate electronic filing, or e-filing, for certain immigration forms.

Under this IFR, USCIS may require future filings of any immigration form that has been available for e-filing for at least 180 days to be submitted online. USCIS will notify the public on its website at least 60 days before requiring e-filing of a form. Filers must use an online account to submit an immigration form to USCIS, either by completing the form online or by uploading a PDF of the completed form and related evidence.

This initiative will eliminate reliance on the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s physical lockbox services and accelerate the shift to electronic fee payments. The transition should deliver substantial cost savings and grea

USCIS to Reduce Frivolous Immigration Benefits Requests by Reinforcing Evidence Standards

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is clarifying that benefit requestors should establish eligibility for an immigration benefit at the time they file a benefit request. Generally, if a benefit requestor fails to demonstrate eligibility for a benefit or fails to provide all required initial evidence when filing an application, USCIS may deny their immigration benefit request without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID). USCIS form instructions specify all required initial evidence for every benefit request, giving requestors all the information needed to comply.

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USCIS Announces Rule Change to Asylum System to Reduce Backlog

With this rule, USCIS can refer asylum applications to Immigration Judges without interviewing the alien

WASHINGTON – The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a rule change designed to reduce the backlog in the asylum system.

Currently, both USCIS and Department of Justice (DOJ) Immigration Judges adjudicate applications for asylum: USCIS adjudicates “affirmative” asylum applications for aliens who are not in removal proceedings, while Immigration Judges adjudicate “defensive” asylum applications for aliens who are in removal proceedings. Depending on the alien’s immigration status, USCIS will usually either adjudicate the application or refer it to an Immigration Judge, who will then condu