Bond Immigration Law

Social Media requirment update and cancellation of visa stamping appointments -

As of December 15, 2025 the Department will expand the requirement that an online presence review be conducted for all H-1B applicants and their dependents, in addition to the students and exchange visitors already subject to this review. To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for H-1B and their dependents (H-4), F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to “public.”

To meet the new vetting requirments, consulates have started cancelling visa stamping appointments, and rescheduling may not be possible until June/July 2026. Applicants are reminded to check the State Department website for updates.

Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for H-1B and Dependent H-4 Visa Applicants Suspension of Visa Issuance to Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and other National Security and Public Safety Threats

Press release from the USCIS: “For too long, past Administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the U.S. virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing untold amount of taxpayer dollars, and disadvantaging U.S. citizens,” said a DHS spokesperson. “This new proposed rule would end that abuse once and for all by limiting the amount of time certain visa holders are allowed to remain in the U.S., easing the burden on the federal government to properly oversee foreign students and their history.”

Since 1978, foreign students (F visa holders) have been admitted into the U.S. for an unspecified period known as “duration of status.” Unlike other visas issued, those with a “duration of status” designation are allowed to remain in the U.S. for an indefinite amount of time without further screening and vetting.

In turn, foreign students have taken advantage of U.S. generosity and have become “forever” students, perpetually enrolled in higher education courses to remain in the U.S."

The press release overlooks (surely not intentionally) the facts. In the 2023-2024 school year, international students contributed a combined $43.8 billion into the economy and supported more than 375,000 jobs across the U.S. The reference to "forever students" is a mischaracterization, as is the claim that these students aren't vetted.

International Students & Graduates in the U.S.: 5 Things to Know International students and graduates help America compete globally.

https://www.aclutx.org/en/news/can-border-agents-search-your-electronic-devices-its-complicated?fbclid=IwY2xjawJVe0JleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHSd8rpzPnpyFuCu_YqI5F9kJ12nOCPy00frQpvN0AL1qK6u0abdbcqrUOQ_aem_CWegWRQSbGd3v8v2RO2hmw

Can Border Agents Search Your Electronic Devices? It’s Complicated. Esha Bhandari, Deputy Director, ACLU Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project Nathan Freed Wessler, Deputy Director, ACLU Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project Noa Yachot, Former Senior Editor, ACLU This post was originally posted on March 14, 2017 and updated on March 21, 2025. The government has....

NPR on green card and visa holders should know before traveling abroad.

What green-card and visa holders should know before traveling abroad Recently, green-card and visa holders have been facing tougher scrutiny at airports. Immigration attorneys give tips on how reduce the chances of running into problems while traveling.

The State of Texas has sued to enjoin the Parole in Place program, Keeping Families Together. A Federal judge has issued a 14 day stay, which stops the USCIS from processing or reviewing applications, however, you may still apply.

Immigrant families file motion to defend Biden program as Republican states sue The program offers a form of legal relief known as “parole in place” to an estimated half-million undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens.

Keeping Families Together Parole in Place
The White House and the Department of Homeland Security recently announced a program that will create a legal pathway to permanent residence for certain undocumented spouses and children of US citizens.

The program, Keeping Families Together Parole in Place will be granted on a case-by-case basis, and if eligible, applicants will be allowed to remain in the US with their families, be eligible for work authorization, and may be eligible to apply for permanent residence without having to leave the US and apply for a waiver and/or visa at a US consulate abroad.

To be considered eligible, as of June 17, 2024 applicants must have resided continuously in the US for at least 10 years, be legally married to a US Citizen (or have a qualifying stepchild relationship with a US Citizen), have no disqualifying criminal convictions, not pose a threat to national security and public safety, and merit a favorable exercise of discretion.

The USCIS will begin accepting applications on August 19, 2024. you If would like to schedule an appointment to discuss eligibility, call our office at 469.917.8028 or email [email protected].
Should there be a change in administration after the election in November, this program may no longer be available.

At the Democratic National Convention, How Will Democrats Respond to Republicans’ Inaccurate Message on Immigration? - Documented With Harris taking over in the Democratic Party presidential race, Trump and Vance will continue to center the same topic of immigration, which is already a key message of Republicans' campaign in the 2024 election.

The USCIS just announced another selection will take place for H-1B Registrations that were submitted in March 2023. Everyone hold your breath, cross your fingers and stay tuned!

USCIS Will Conduct Second Random Selection from Previously Submitted FY 2024 H-1B Cap Registrations | USCIS In March 2023, USCIS conducted an initial random selection on properly submitted electronic registrations for the fiscal year (FY) 2024 H-1B cap, including for beneficiaries eligible for the advanced degree exemption. Only those petitioners with selected registrations for FY 2024 are eligible to fil...

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/state-department-plans-pilot-for-domestic-visa-renewal-this-yearFrom Bloomberg Law - State Department Pilot Program for visa renewal within the US for H-1B workers. Lets see how this rolls out!

Daily Labor Report®

Anyone from Iran, including US citizens, should avoid all but emergency travel. The CBP has no authority to detain US Citizens born in Iran, but there are reports this is happening.

A source at CBP reported that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a national order to CBP to “report” and detain anyone with Iranian heritage entering the country who is deemed potentially suspicious or “adversarial,” regardless of citizenship status.”

BREAKING: CAIR-WA Assisting Iranian-Americans Detained at U.S. Border (SEATTLE, WA, 1/5/20) – The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA) is assisting more than 60 Iranians and Iranian-Americans of all ages who were detained at length and questioned at the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Blaine, Wash.

The US has a shortage of employees in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math). Why are we turning away the best and brightest, if we want to remain competitive on a global scale?

What the Trump administration has done to restrict immigration so far, from separating families to H-1B visas Restricting both legal and illegal immigration has played a key part in Donald Trump's rhetoric and policies.