New $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” Could Make Visiting the U.S. Costlier for Many Travelers

New $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” Could Make Visiting the U.S. Costlier for Many Travelers

By Mary Campbell  A controversial new travel fee—dubbed the “visa integrity fee”—was enacted as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law on July 4, 2025. It imposes a $250 charge on top of existing visa application fees for most non‑immigrant visa holders, including tourist (B‑1/B‑2), student (F/M), work (H‑1B/H‑4), and exchange (J‑1/J‑2) categories. When […]

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the Haitian Community Expiration. Alternative Pathways to Legalization for Haitians and the Impact of President Trump’s Executive Orders on Registration

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the Haitian Community Expiration. Alternative Pathways to Legalization for Haitians and the Impact of President Trump’s Executive Orders on Registration

By Brian Figeroux, Esq. | Editorial credit: Phil Pasquini / shutterstock.com  As of March 12, 2025, the status of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the Haitian community in the United States is undergoing significant changes due to recent policy shifts by the Trump administration. These changes have profound implications for Haitian nationals currently residing in […]

Trump Proposes $5M “Gold Card” Visa to Replace EB-5 Program

Trump Proposes $5M “Gold Card” Visa to Replace EB-5 Program

By Brian Figeroux, Esq. | Editorial credit: mark reinstein / Shutterstock.com President Donald Trump has unveiled a proposal to replace the existing EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program with a new “Gold Card” visa, priced at $5 million. This initiative aims to attract affluent individuals by offering permanent U.S. residency and a pathway to citizenship in exchange […]

What We Know About Trump’s Efforts to Roll Back TPS For Venezuelans and CHNV Parole

What We Know About Trump’s Efforts to Roll Back TPS For Venezuelans and CHNV Parole

By Dara Lind, Immmigration Impact | Editorial credit: Phil Pasquini / shutterstock.com  The American Immigration Council does not endorse or oppose candidates for elected office. We aim to provide analysis regarding the implications of the election on the U.S. immigration system. From his first day in office, President Trump made clear that part of his […]

USCIS Waives COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Adjustment of Status to Lawful Permanent Resident Applications

USCIS Waives COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Adjustment of Status to Lawful Permanent Resident Applications

By Janet Howard As of January 22, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has waived the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for individuals applying for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident (green card) within the United States. This policy change means that applicants are no longer required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination on […]

Extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Sudan, Ukraine, Venezuela & H-1B Final Rule, H-2 Final Rule, and Revised Form I-129

Extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Sudan, Ukraine, Venezuela & H-1B Final Rule, H-2 Final Rule, and Revised Form I-129

Extension of TPS for Sudan As required by the statute, at least 60 days before the expiration of a current Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation or extension and after consultation with appropriate government agencies, the conditions in the foreign state must be reviewed to determine whether conditions for the TPS designation continue to be met. […]