Business
Immigration Bulletin

If your employees plan to travel internationally, make sure to review current US consulate visa appointment wait times before booking tickets. Wait times vary widely by location, and some consulates are already scheduling months in advance. Monitoring wait times helps prevent unexpected delays, missed return dates, and work disruptions.

Canadian citizens typically do not need a visa for short visits to the US, though certain categories – such as E-1/E-2 treaty investors and fiancé or diplomatic visas – still require a visa stamp. After every entry, Canadians must download their electronic I-94 Arrival/Departure record, which includes classification and length of stay. There is no US “six-month-per-year” rule. Each entry is evaluated independently by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) based on travel purpose, itinerary, and travel history.

USCIS has reduced the maximum validity period for certain Employment Authorization Document (EAD) categories. Initial and renewal EADs for asylees, certain refugees, and individuals with pending or granted withholding of removal are valid for up to 18 months instead of 5 years. Parole-based categories, including refugee parolees and TPS applicants or holders, are valid for the authorized parole or TPS period, capped at 1 year.

The Department of Homeland Security announced an interim final rule, effective immediately, ending automatic extensions of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for most renewal applicants. Certain categories – such as TPS-related extensions – remain exempt. Without these automatic EAD extensions, many applicants may temporarily lose the ability to work while their renewal requests are pending. The rule is not yet final and may face legal challenges before full implementation.

USCIS updated their guidance on the $100,000 H-1B visa fee proclamation, outlining which petitions are subject to the fee and which are exempt. The update addresses filings made abroad, change of status requests, and existing H-1B approvals. Review this update carefully to understand how it may impact future filings and travel plans. Contact us for any questions on how this new $100,000 fee may impact you or your employees.

Regarding the September 19, 2025 Trump Administration Proclamation announcing a $100,000 fee for H-1B's, USCIS and CBP added that the proclamation only applies to new petitions filed September 21,2025 or later. H-1B extensions of stay inside the US are exempt from the proclamation according to USCIS, however we are awaiting explicit confirmation that an H-1B change of employer, change of status, and amended petitions are exempt. Travel outside of the US for visa processing/renewals will be impacted, so H-1B workers should refrain from all travel outside the continental US until implementation of the fee is further clarified. This year's H-1B lottery beneficiaries with approved petitions and a valid H-1B visa, should seek to enter the US as soon as possible. Stay tuned for more updates.

The Department of Labor Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has updated its FAQs page. The page includes helpful information about PERM cases, prevailing wages, as well as H-1B, H-2B, H-1B1, and E-3 visas. Contact us if you have further questions about business immigration processes.

A federal judge in California has temporarily blocked DHS from terminating TPS protections for Venezuela and Haiti. TPS designations will be extended until at least February 3, 2026, for Haiti and October 2, 2026, for Venezuela. Venezuelan TPS holders must renew by September 10, 2025, to secure the extension. Contact Antonini & Cohen today for help protecting your status.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the termination of the 2021 Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for nationals of Venezuela.
Venezuela's 2021 designation is set to expire on September 10, 2025. Contact us if you have any questions or concerns about how this termination may affect your status.

USCIS has updated its payment policy to expand debit card payments through Form G-1650, in addition to credit cards. Beginning October 28, 2025, the agency will no longer accept checks or money orders.