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09/04/2026

🚨 CAN USCIS NOW CHECK YOUR CREDIT? 💳

USCIS just made an important change to Form I-864, Affidavit of Support — and if you’re sponsoring someone for a green card, you need to know about it.

📌 Effective August 31, 2026, USCIS will only accept the new 08/24/26 edition of Forms I-864, I-864A, and I-864EZ.

⚠️ There is NO grace period.

But here’s the part getting attention: the new I-864 includes a privacy release authorizing USCIS to request information from consumer reporting agencies when assessing the sufficiency of the Affidavit of Support.

Does that mean a low credit score automatically hurts your immigration case? That’s not what USCIS says. But this does give USCIS another way to obtain financial information about a sponsor.

🔒 And if you have a credit or security freeze, pay attention. USCIS warns that it may be unable to access necessary information, which could potentially delay the case if the issue isn’t addressed.

And remember: signing an I-864 isn’t just paperwork. It creates a legally binding financial obligation.

📲 Preparing a green card application? Double-check your I-864 edition before filing.

⚖️ General information only. Every immigration case is different.

09/03/2026

🚨 BREAKING: Birthright citizenship update 🇺🇸

A federal judge has blocked the government’s latest attempt to restrict birthright citizenship, finding the policy is likely unconstitutional. ⚖️

The ruling could protect children nationwide who fall within the court-certified class — not just the families who brought the lawsuit.

The government can still appeal, so this legal battle may not be over. Stay tuned for updates.

08/27/2026

🚨🇺🇸 APPLYING FOR U.S. CITIZENSHIP? USCIS MAY CHECK YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

As of August 25, 2026, USCIS has officially made “neighborhood investigations” part of its permanent naturalization policy.

What does that mean? USCIS may investigate an N-400 applicant’s:

🏠 Neighborhood & residence
💼 Workplace & employment history
👥 Reputation & character
📅 Information going back at least 5 years

But don’t panic! ⚠️ This does NOT mean USCIS will visit every applicant’s home or interview every neighbor.

Officers can waive these investigations case by case—and USCIS says applicants may voluntarily submit character/reference letters from neighbors, employers, colleagues, or community members that can be considered when deciding whether an investigation is necessary.

📌 My recommendation: Make sure your N-400 is accurate and consistent, especially your address, employment, travel, and tax history. Depending on your case, strong character letters may also be worth including.

🇺🇸 Citizenship applications are getting another layer of scrutiny—prepare accordingly.

Save this post 🔖 and share it with someone applying for U.S. citizenship!

⚖️ Ana Gabriela Urizar, Immigration Attorney

08/26/2026

🚨 H-1B ALERT: A $103,265 FEE IS BEING PROPOSED
DHS is proposing a new $103,265 fee for H-1B cap-subject petitions.

💰 Proposed additional fee: $103,265
📄 Would apply to H-1B cap-subject petitions, including the U.S. advanced-degree exemption
➕ Would be in addition to other applicable government fees
🎓 The H-1B cap remains 65,000 + 20,000 U.S. advanced-degree spots
🏛️ Certain cap-exempt H-1B petitions, including qualifying universities and research organizations, would NOT be subject to this additional fee.

DHS estimates the proposed fee could generate approximately $8.8 BILLION annually based on 85,000 cap-subject petitions.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: This is a PROPOSED RULE. The $103,265 fee is NOT currently in effect.

If finalized, this could dramatically change the economics of H-1B sponsorship, particularly for startups and smaller employers.

🔗 Read the proposed rule directly in the Federal Register:
https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2026-17324/fee-for-certain-h-1b-petitions

Follow for updates as this proposal moves through the rulemaking process.

08/25/2026

🚨 IMMIGRATION UPDATE: A major change for immigrant visa applicants from 75 countries.

A federal judge has vacated the State Department’s 75-country immigrant visa freeze nationwide. ⚖️🇺🇸

What does this mean?

✅ The policy is no longer in effect for now
✅ Certain immigrant visa refusals under INA § 221(g) may need to be reconsidered
✅ Applicants affected solely because of their nationality could potentially have their cases re-adjudicated

⚠️ Important: The State Department has not yet released guidance explaining exactly how previously refused cases will be handled, and the government could still appeal or seek a stay.

This is an encouraging development — but affected applicants should continue monitoring their cases and wait for official instructions from the State Department or their U.S. consulate.

📲 Save & share this with someone who may have been affected.

08/25/2026

🚨 MAJOR U.S. VISA UPDATE 🇺🇸

The US government is reportedly preparing to revoke up to 200,000 B1/B2 tourist and business visas involving individuals who entered the U.S. as temporary visitors and later applied for asylum.

⚠️ Important: A visa revocation does NOT automatically mean deportation or that a pending asylum case is terminated.

However, it could have significant immigration and travel consequences.

👩🏻‍⚖️ My recommendation: If you entered with a B1/B2 visa and later applied for asylum, speak with an immigration attorney before traveling internationally or making major immigration decisions.

The policy has not yet been finalized, and we are still waiting for additional details.

📲 Follow for updates as this develops.

08/24/2026

🚨🇺🇸 SEPTEMBER 2026 VISA BULLETIN UPDATE!

There is BIG movement for family-based green cards — AND USCIS has now confirmed which charts applicants will use for September. 📅👇

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 FAMILY-BASED HIGHLIGHTS

👤 F1: ⏩ ~13 months
💚 F2A: ⏩ 1 month + CURRENT on Dates for Filing
👨‍👩‍👧 F2B: ⏩ ~20 months
💍 F3: ⏩ ~29 months 🔥
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 F4: ⏩ ~26 months 🔥

📢 IMPORTANT USCIS UPDATE:

✅ Family-based applicants → DATES FOR FILING chart

💼 Employment-based applicants → FINAL ACTION DATES chart

For employment-based cases:

➡️ EB-1, EB-2 & EB-3: No movement
➡️ EB-4: ⏩ 2 months to December 15, 2022
➡️ Most EB-5 categories remain current

⚠️ If you have been waiting for your priority date, CHECK IT NOW. Some family-based applicants may now be able to move forward with filing their Adjustment of Status applications.

📲 Save this post and share it with someone waiting for their green card!

08/19/2026

🚨 GREEN CARD UPDATE: NEW FORM I-485

USCIS has announced a new edition of Form I-485, and there will be NO GRACE PERIOD.

📅 Effective September 18, 2026:

• USCIS will only accept the 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485.
• The current 01/20/25 edition will be rejected if postmarked or electronically submitted on or after September 18.
• The revised form aligns with the new Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Final Rule.

If you’re preparing to apply for adjustment of status, check the edition date before filing. Using the wrong version could result in USCIS rejecting your application.

September 18 = new form. No grace period.

💾Save and share this with someone preparing their green card application.

08/18/2026

🩺🇺🇸 Getting your USCIS medical exam for your Green Card? SAVE THIS!

Before your appointment:

👨‍⚕️ Use a USCIS-designated Civil Surgeon
🪪 Bring a valid photo ID
💉 Bring ALL vaccination records, including records from your home country
📁 Bring relevant medical records
✍️ Do NOT sign Form I-693 ahead of time — sign it when instructed in front of the Civil Surgeon
💉 Let the doctor determine which vaccines and tests you actually need

🔎 Find an authorized Civil Surgeon:
https://www.uscis.gov/tools/find-a-civil-surgeon

📩 Filing your I-485 by mail? Keep the I-693 envelope SEALED. DO NOT OPEN IT.

💻 Filing your I-485 online? USCIS instructs you to open the sealed envelope and upload the completed I-693 with your online application. Keep the original I-693 AND the original envelope because USCIS may ask for them later.

📌 Save this post for your Green Card process and send it to someone who needs it!

08/13/2026

🚨✈️ MAJOR ADVANCE PAROLE UPDATE — BUT THIS DOES NOT AFFECT EVERYONE

On August 13, 2026, the BIA issued a major new decision:

⚖️ Matter of Delcarmen-Lara, 29 I&N Dec. 830 (BIA 2026)

The BIA overruled Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly and held that traveling outside the United States with Advance Parole can now count as a “departure” for purposes of the unlawful presence bars. (Department of Justice)

🔴 WHO SHOULD BE CONCERNED?

People who have accumulated one year or more of unlawful presence in the United States and are now planning to travel using Advance Parole. For those individuals, the departure may trigger the 10-year unlawful presence bar.

✅ This does NOT mean everyone with Advance Parole will trigger a bar.

And importantly:

⏪ THIS DECISION IS NOT RETROACTIVE.
The BIA expressly stated that the new rule will apply prospectively. (Department of Justice)

📌 If you already traveled with Advance Parole before this decision, the BIA did not make its new rule retroactive to that prior travel.

✈️ If you have Advance Parole and have accumulated unlawful presence, speak with an immigration attorney BEFORE traveling.

Your individual immigration history matters.

📲 SAVE + SHARE this important immigration update.

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