Headlines:
Vacation Journey Alert: Visa Appointments Disrupted; Revocation Developments – Current developments affecting H-1B and H-4 vacationers and visa holders, and others, this winter embody visa appointment disruptions tied to expanded screening and a rise in visa revocation notices reportedly linked to prior arrest historical past.
USCIS Limits Age and Kind of Pictures for Many Functions – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers introduced new steering, efficient instantly, limiting the age of overseas nationals’ photographs that can be utilized to create immigration paperwork to a most of three years, with many exceptions. Sure kinds would require a brand new picture, together with new biometrics, no matter when an applicant’s or petitioner’s final {photograph} was taken.
DOS Updates Directions for Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa Candidates Scheduling Interviews – The Division of State introduced that it has up to date its directions for all nonimmigrant and immigrant visa candidates scheduling visa interview appointments.
DHS Pronounces Termination of TPS Designation for Ethiopia – The Division of Homeland Safety is terminating the Short-term Protected Standing designation for Ethiopia.
USCIS Posts New Kind for ‘Gold Card’ Immigrant Petition; ‘Platinum Card’ Coming Quickly – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers has posted a brand new kind for the “Trump Gold Card” immigrant visa program. This system requires a minimal “contribution” of $1 million together with a hefty charge. The Trump administration additionally introduced a “Trump Platinum Card,” coming quickly, for which overseas nationals can be a part of a ready record.
DHS Terminates Household Reunification Parole Packages – The Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) is terminating all categorical household reunification parole packages for folks from Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras, and their fast members of the family. DHS mentioned it “is returning parole to a case-by-case foundation.”
Particulars:
Vacation Journey Alert: Visa Appointments Disrupted; Revocation Developments
The Alliance of Enterprise Immigration Attorneys (ABIL) is alerting shoppers about current developments affecting H-1B and H-4 vacationers and visa holders, and others, this winter: visa appointment disruptions tied to expanded screening and a rise in visa revocation notices reportedly linked to prior arrest historical past.
For instance, attorneys have acquired experiences that many H-1B and H-4 visa appointments scheduled in India for December 2025 have been canceled. Candidates are receiving notices that their appointments are being rescheduled for February and March 2026 as an alternative. Up to now, these experiences come from U.S. consulates in Hyderabad and Chennai; additional cancellations and reschedulings are anticipated at different posts in India and elsewhere. Affected H-1B visa candidates and their dependents ought to anticipate rescheduling delays because of prolonged on-line presence checks and any potential security-related indicators and plan their future journey accordingly.
Attorneys even have acquired experiences that the Division of State has initiated visa revocation actions for some H-1B visa holders based mostly on prior arrest historical past, together with arrests that occurred years in the past (some experiences attain again to 2017). Visa revocations don’t essentially affect lawful standing in america however are a critical concern.
Visa holders in america could need to contemplate suspending worldwide journey or delaying departure till the consulate has confirmed {that a} visa appointment has not been rescheduled. For case-specific steering on journey planning, stamping technique, rescheduling visa appointments, or responding to a revocation discover, contact your ABIL lawyer.
USCIS Limits Age and Kind of Pictures for Many Functions
On December 12, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers (USCIS) introduced new steering, efficient instantly, limiting the age of overseas nationals’ photographs that can be utilized to create immigration paperwork to a most of three years, with many exceptions. Sure kinds would require a brand new picture, together with new biometrics, “no matter when an applicant’s or petitioner’s final {photograph} was taken,” together with functions to interchange everlasting resident playing cards and to register everlasting residence or modify standing, and functions for naturalization and certificates of citizenship.
Moreover, USCIS mentioned, “self-submitted photographs will now not be accepted. Solely photographs taken by USCIS or different licensed entities will likely be used.” USCIS additionally mentioned that it “has the discretion to require a brand new {photograph} from requestors in lieu of reusing an present {photograph}.”
DOS Updates Directions for Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa Candidates Scheduling Interviews
On December 12, 2025, the Division of State (DOS) introduced that it has up to date its directions for all nonimmigrant and immigrant visa candidates scheduling visa interview appointments.
Nonimmigrant Visas
- Candidates for U.S. nonimmigrant visas ought to schedule their visa interview appointments on the S. embassy or consulate of their nation of nationality or residence.
- Nationals of nations the place the U.S. authorities shouldn’t be conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations should apply on the designated embassy or consulate, until their residence is elsewhere.
Immigrant Visas
- Immigrant visa candidates should interview within the consular district designated for his or her place of residence or of their nation of nationality if requested, with restricted exceptions.
- Residents of nations the place routine visa operations are suspended or paused ought to apply at their designated immigrant visa processing publish, until the applicant is a nationwide of one other nation with ongoing operations.
The bulletins embody an inventory of designated processing posts for functions.
DHS Pronounces Termination of TPS Designation for Ethiopia
On December 12, 2025, the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) introduced that it’s terminating the Short-term Protected Standing (TPS) designation for Ethiopia.
DHS mentioned that Ethiopian nationals with no different lawful foundation for remaining in america have 60 days to voluntarily depart america. After February 13, 2026, DHS “could arrest and deport any Ethiopian nationwide with out standing after their TPS has been terminated.” DHS mentioned it encourages them to make use of U.S. Customs and Border Safety’s CBP House Cell App to report their departure and “self-deport” from america. Use of the app “features a complimentary aircraft ticket, a $1,000 exit bonus, and potential future alternatives for authorized immigration,” DHS mentioned.
USCIS Posts New Kind for ‘Gold Card’ Immigrant Petition; ‘Platinum Card’ Coming Quickly
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers (USCIS) has posted a brand new kind for the “Trump Gold Card” immigrant visa program, Kind I-140G, Immigrant Petition for the Gold Card Program. This system requires a minimal “contribution” of $1 million together with a hefty utility charge. Candidates could solely file the shape after they’ve registered their data on trumpcard.gov and acquired affirmation that their submission was accepted. USCIS will contact the applicant when it’s time to create or log in to their USCIS on-line account to file the shape.
The shape, dated 11/19/2025, was created beneath “The Gold Card,” Government Order 14351. The charge for Kind I-140G is $15,000 per particular person (principal beneficiary, partner, or youngster(ren), as relevant). Extra Division of State (DOS) “small charges” could apply “relying on the applicant.” For a company or comparable entity submitting on behalf of a person, the required “reward” to america is $2 million for the principal beneficiary, and $1 million per particular person for any accompanying partner or youngsters listed on the petition, along with the charge(s).
The Trump administration additionally introduced a “Trump Platinum Card,” coming quickly, for which overseas nationals can be a part of a ready record. When launched, and upon receipt of a $15,000 processing charge and a $5 million contribution, candidates can have the flexibility to spend as much as 270 days in america with out being topic to U.S. taxes on non-U.S. earnings. Extra DOS “small charges” could apply “relying on the applicant.” These “who’ve ever been topic to U.S. tax on non-U.S. earnings (e.g., U.S. residents and resident aliens) usually are not eligible to use for the Trump Platinum Card.”
It’s unclear how lengthy processing will take. The web site states, “As soon as an applicant’s processing charge and utility are acquired, the method ought to take weeks. The applicant might want to attend a visa interview and submit any extra paperwork in a well timed method.” Nonetheless, practitioners expressed considerations that it may take years in some circumstances.
DHS Terminates Household Reunification Parole Packages
On December 12, 2025, the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) introduced that it’s terminating all categorical household reunification parole (FRP) packages for folks from Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras, and their fast members of the family. DHS mentioned it “is returning parole to a case-by-case foundation.”
If an individual was paroled in america beneath the FRP packages and their parole has not but expired by January 14, 2026, it can terminate on that date until the particular person has a pending utility to register everlasting residence or modify standing that was postmarked or electronically filed by December 15, 2025, and continues to be pending on January 14, 2026. If the particular person with parole has a pending Kind I-485, the parole will stay legitimate till both the interval of parole expires or DHS makes a closing resolution on their pending Kind I-485, whichever is sooner. If DHS denies their Kind I-485, “their interval of parole will likely be terminated, and they need to depart america instantly.”
DHS mentioned that when it terminates an individual’s interval of parole beneath the FRP packages, it additionally will revoke their employment authorization based mostly on that parole. The company mentioned it can notify every particular person individually that DHS is terminating their parole interval and revoking their employment authorization.
Agency within the Information
Cyrus Mehta was quoted by the Financial Instances in A Million-Greenback Gold Card, But the Identical Lengthy Look forward to Indians Eyeing American Shores. Commenting on the lengthy waits folks born in India will face in the event that they apply for the Gold Card, he mentioned, “If you’re born in India, watch out for Trump’s Gold Card, as you can be caught within the India EB-1 or EB-2 backlogs for years and even many years after you might have shelled out $1 million or extra and received’t see your inexperienced card for a really very long time or by no means.”
Mr. Mehta was quoted by the Instances of India in U.S. to Scan Social Media of all H-1B, H-4 Visa Candidates From December 15. Commenting on the brand new social media vetting coverage for H-1Bs, he mentioned, “The coverage to punish H-1B holders who’ve been concerned in censorship within the tech sector seems to be hypocritical. The Trump administration will deny a visa profit should you (say as an govt in a social media firm) have censored an individual or viewpoint they favour – nonetheless politically incorrect, hurtful or obnoxious it might be. However, the Trump administration can have no compunctions to punish you in case you have expressed views that they disfavor comparable to views perceived to be anti-Americanism even whether it is protected beneath the First Modification.”
