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Category: Employment Visas

July 2026 Visa Bulletin: Key Updates for Employment-Based and Family-Based Applicants

The Department of State has published the Visa Bulletin for July 2026 (Volume XI, Number 16). Simultaneously, USCIS has posted its Adjustment of Status (AOS) Filing Chart confirming which priority date cutoffs apply to I-485 applications filed this month. This bulletin brings several significant developments — including the unavailability of EB-2 and EB-5 Unreserved numbers for India, a retrogressed EB-1

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Donald Smith 06/18/2026

Visa Bulletin for June 2026

Visa Bulletin for June 2026 U.S. Department of State | Litwin & Smith Immigration Law Update The U.S. Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for June 2026 (Volume XI, Number 15). The Visa Bulletin governs the availability of immigrant visa numbers for both the National Visa Center (NVC) process and adjustment of status filings with USCIS. Each month,

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Donald Smith 06/02/2026

USCIS Declares Adjustment of Status an “Extraordinary” Discretionary Benefit: What It Means for Applicants

USCIS Declares Adjustment of Status an “Extraordinary” Discretionary Benefit: What It Means for Applicants By Litwin Smith • May 2026 On May 21, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199, reminding its officers and the public that adjustment of status under Section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is not a right. It is,

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Donald Smith 05/22/2026

The High-Skilled Visa Landscape in 2026: Rising Denials, Higher Stakes, and the Value of Experienced Counsel

The High-Skilled Visa Landscape in 2026: Rising Denials, Higher Stakes, and the Value of Experienced Counsel If you are a skilled professional, an employer of foreign nationals, or a company navigating the U.S. immigration system, 2026 presents the most challenging adjudication environment in nearly a decade. Denial rates for employment-based visa categories are climbing sharply. Fees have increased dramatically. Requests

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Donald Smith 05/06/2026

What Employers Must Do Now That H-1B Registration Is Closed

As the H-1B cap registration window is closed, most employers are focused on one outcome: selection. That is understandable, but incomplete. At this stage of the process, the more consequential question is not whether a registration will be selected, but whether the case is positioned to survive adjudication once it is selected. In today’s environment, the period between the close

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Donald Smith 03/23/2026

March 2026 Visa Bulletin: Meaningful Movement in Employment-Based Categories

The March 2026 Visa Bulletin shows stronger forward movement than February — particularly in key employment-based categories. Here’s what changed: 🔹 EB-1 (India & China) – Advanced forward from prior February cutoffs.🔹 EB-2 (Rest of World) – Now current. A significant jump.🔹 EB-2 (India) – Substantial advancement.🔹 EB-3 (Rest of World/Mexico/Philippines) – Continued forward movement.🔹 EB-4 – Notable advancement compared

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Donald Smith 02/20/2026

H-1B Cap Season: What Employers Should Be Doing Before Registration Opens

Each year, employers focus closely on the March H-1B registration window. By then, however, many of the most important decisions and mistakes have already been made. Successful H-1B cap filings are rarely the result of last-minute preparation. They are the product of careful planning that begins well before registration opens. Why February Matters February is the final opportunity for employers

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Donald Smith 02/04/2026

Time to Plan for the 2025 H1B Cap Lottery

As the world continues to recover and adapt to post-pandemic realities, the competition for top talent in specialty occupations is becoming fiercer. For employers in the United States, this means the H1B visa program remains a critical pathway to securing the skilled workers needed to drive innovation and growth.  However, with the annual cap on H1B visas and the introduction

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Donald Smith 02/17/2024

USCIS Announces Additional H2B Visas to Be Available in FY 2024

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) announced an additional allocation of 64,716 H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2024, nearly doubling the standard annual cap of 66,000. This increase aims to support American businesses in sectors like hospitality, tourism, landscaping, and seafood processing, where there’s a high demand for seasonal and temporary workers.  The

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Donald Smith 12/18/2023

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