DV Lottery

If you’ve ever tried to book a U.S. visa appointment in Australia—you know how frustrating it can be not knowing the availability before you pay the MRV fee. Appointment availability can change by the day (hour?), and refreshing consulate websites all day isn’t exactly how you want to spend your week. That’s why I’m excited to announce the launch of …

Navigating the labyrinth of U.S. immigration law is a daunting task under the best of circumstances. When you’re fleeing violence or recovering from a crime, it can feel downright impossible. Yet, within that complex system, there are two powerful, life-altering lifelines: the VAWA self-petition and the U Visa. They sound similar, both offering protection to vulnerable immigrants, but they operate …

Los Angeles County declared a state of emergency amid expanding ICE raids that have fueled fear and economic disruption. The 4–1 vote allows officials to fund rent aid, legal services, and other relief for immigrant families. Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said the measure ensures full county support for affected communities, as arrests of migrants without criminal records continue to rise.

For audio listeners, you can listen to our audio version of the News Digest here. You can also join our Immigration News Digest Newsletter here. On October 9, 2025, E-Verify announced that it has resumed operations after being offline from October 1–7, 2025 during the federal government shutdown. Employers who hired during this period must create E-Verify cases by Tuesday, …

A PERM application is the first step of the EB-3 Green Card process in the United States. It is a labor certification application filed by a U.S. employer that wishes to sponsor a foreign worker for lawful permanent residency. This application must be run by the sponsoring employer, not the foreign worker. Through the PERM process, the employer demonstrates that there are …

To obtain Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status, a beneficiary must submit an affidavit of support (I-864) by a sponsor (the petitioner). INA 212(a)(4) provides that an applicant who, at the time of application for a visa, for admission, or adjustment of status, is likely at any time to become a public charge after admission to the United States is inadmissible …

As an Aussie living in the U.S., there’s nothing quite like opening a bottle of wine from back home. Whether you’re craving a crisp Clare Valley Riesling, a bold Barossa Shiraz, or a wild Margaret River Pet Nat, tracking down proper Australian wine in the U.S. can feel like a full-time job. But the good news is: it’s getting easier. …

Applying for a Green Card after being “waived through” the U.S. border is a complex process. The key issue is proving you were “inspected and admitted” or “inspected and paroled,” which is a foundational requirement for adjusting your status to a permanent resident while in the U.S. “Waived through” generally falls under this category, but it is not a documented …

The Supreme Court declined to hear a case challenging work authorization for H-4 spouses of H-1B visa holders. The petition, led by Save Jobs USA, argued DHS lacked authority to grant such rights. The refusal keeps the Obama-era rule intact, allowing tens of thousands of H-4 spouses, many in tech, to continue working legally in the U.S.

Effective September 21, 2025 On September 19, 2025, the President issued a Proclamation on Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, introducing a major change to the H-1B visa program. Beginning 12:01 a.m. (EDT) on September 21, 2025, certain H-1B petitions must include an additional $100,000 payment as a condition of eligibility.This measure represents an initial step in a broader reform of the H-1B program and significantly affects how …