Headlines:
Shutdown Aftermath: Visa Providers Resume, Delays Anticipated – Routine visa companies have resumed after the federal authorities shutdown was ended after a report 43 days. Federal funding has been prolonged till January 30, 2026, however delays and backlogs stay.
DOS Expands Public Cost Exclusions, Encourages Visa Officers to Speculate – The Division of State despatched a cable to diplomatic and consular posts that enormously expands the general public cost causes for excluding visa candidates past the present necessities.
Visa Bulletin for December Notes Extension of ‘Sure Non secular Employees’ Class – The Division of State’s Visa Bulletin notes {that a} new invoice signed on November 12, 2025, extends the EB-4 Sure Non secular Employees (SR) class till January 30, 2026. No SR visas could also be issued abroad, or last motion taken on adjustment of standing circumstances, after midnight January 29, 2026.
Particulars:
Shutdown Aftermath: Visa Providers Resume, Delays Anticipated
In accordance with reviews, routine visa companies have resumed after the federal authorities shutdown ended on November 12, 2025, after a report 43 days. Federal funding has been prolonged till January 30, 2026, however delays and backlogs stay. Though funding via charges helped to proceed some visa companies through the shutdown, employees furloughs and layoffs have led to slowdowns, and coordination amongst companies can be a problem. Documenting the rationale for any delay is really helpful for employers.
The Division of Labor (DOL) introduced earlier than the shutdown ended that the Workplace of International Labor Certification (OFLC) resumed processing on October 31, 2025, of employer requests for prevailing wages and labor certification determinations for momentary and everlasting employment in america. OFLC’s International Labor Utility Gateway (FLAG) system is now accessible, DOL stated, as is OFLC’s SeasonalJobs.dol.gov system, a web based job registry of H-2A and H-2B momentary job alternatives. Processing and response occasions could also be longer than regular, OFLC stated.
The Govt Workplace for Immigration Assessment supplies up to date operational standing info for every immigration courtroom. For details about a selected case, examine the Automated Case Data System on-line or at 800-898-7180 (TDD: 800-828-1120) or name the immigration courtroom dealing with the case.
DOS Expands Public Cost Exclusions, Encourages Visa Officers to Speculate
In accordance with reviews, the Division of State despatched a cable to diplomatic and consular posts that enormously expands the general public cost causes for excluding visa candidates past the present necessities of a medical examination, required vaccines, and screening procedures.
“Sure medical circumstances—together with, however not restricted to, cardiovascular ailments, respiratory ailments, cancers, diabetes, metabolic ailments, neurological ailments, and psychological well being circumstances—can require a whole bunch of 1000’s of {dollars}’ price of care,” the cable warns. It additionally contains weight problems and age within the listing of circumstances visa officers ought to think about, together with the well being of dependent members of the family and potential future eventualities. The cable encourages officers to take a position: “Does the applicant have sufficient monetary assets to cowl the prices of such care over his whole anticipated lifespan with out looking for public money help or long-term institutionalization at authorities expense?”
Reportedly, the brand new steerage primarily applies to immigrant visas, not nonimmigrants and short-term guests.
Visa Bulletin for December Notes Extension of ‘Sure Non secular Employees’ Class
The Division of State’s Visa Bulletin for December 2025 contains the next replace:
H.R. 5371, signed on November 12, 2025, extends the Employment Fourth Desire Sure Non secular Employees (SR) class till January 30, 2026. No SR visas could also be issued abroad, or last motion taken on adjustment of standing circumstances, after midnight January 29, 2026. Visas issued previous to that date might be legitimate solely till January 29, 2026, and all people looking for admission within the non-minister particular immigrant class should be admitted (repeat admitted) into america no later than midnight January 29, 2026.
As indicated in merchandise D of the November 2025 Visa Bulletin, the extension resulted on this class instantly changing into obtainable in November, topic to the identical last motion dates as the opposite Employment Fourth Desire classes per relevant overseas state of chargeability. For December, the relevant SR last motion date might be 01SEP20 for all international locations.
