Guides, explainers, and policy updates on visas, permanent residence, and citizenship in the United States, checked against USCIS sources.
How to apply for asylum in the US in 2026: the 1-year deadline, Form I-589, the $100 fee and annual asylum fee, the 180-day work permit clock and 18-month EADs.
Updated · 7 min read
How to apply for a US B-1/B-2 visitor visa in 2026: DS-160, fees, the interview, visa bonds of up to $20,000, ESTA costs, and the Visa Integrity Fee status.
Updated · 6 min read
What Trump v. Barbara (June 30, 2026) held on birthright citizenship, the new EO 14418 and its court block, and what it means for US-born children of visa holders.
Updated · 6 min read
Who can skip the English part of the US citizenship test, how the 65/20 civics test works in 2026 (10 questions, 6 to pass), and how the N-648 medical waiver works.
Updated · 6 min read
How the 3-year rule for US citizenship through marriage works in 2026: eligibility, living in marital union, 18 months of physical presence, evidence and denials.
Updated · 6 min read
DV-2027 registration has not opened as of October 2026. What happened to DV-2026, the new $1 fee and passport rule, and how to spot green card lottery scams.
Updated · 6 min read
A federal court blocked the DHS rule ending duration of status for F-1 and J-1 visa holders on September 14, 2026. What the rule would do and what students should do now.
Updated · 4 min read
How the E-2 visa works: treaty country check, what counts as a substantial investment, marginality, renewals, spouse work rights, 2026 fees and E-2 vs EB-5.
Updated · 6 min read
Compare EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 green cards: who qualifies, PERM vs self-petition, October 2026 backlogs by country, fees, and how to choose the fastest category.
Updated · 6 min read
EB-5 in 2026: the $1,050,000 and $800,000 investment levels, set-aside visas, I-526E fees back at $3,675 after a court stay, and October 2026 wait times.
Updated · 6 min read
How the EB-2 National Interest Waiver works: the three-part Dhanasar test, evidence checklist, 2026 fees, premium processing, and October 2026 wait times by country.
Updated · 6 min read
How F-1 OPT works in 2026: pre- vs post-completion OPT, the 90/60-day filing window, 90-day unemployment limit, I-765 fees, cap-gap and the pending OPT fee proposal.
Updated · 6 min read
Step-by-step F-1 visa guide for 2026: I-20, SEVIS fee, DS-160 social media questions, public profiles, home-country interviews, fees, and rules after you arrive.
Updated · 6 min read
What happens if you fail the US citizenship test: the 60-90 day retest, which part you retake, what a second failure means, N-336 hearings, refiling and a study plan.
Updated · 6 min read
First 90 days in the US checklist for green card holders: get your SSN, pay the Immigrant Fee, get a state ID, build credit, get insured and protect your status.
Published · 8 min read
How USCIS judges good moral character for citizenship in 2026 under memo PM-602-0188: bars, positive factors, traffic tickets, taxes and neighborhood checks.
Updated · 6 min read
Status of the $100,000 H-1B fee as of October 11, 2026: the proclamation, who was exempt, the June and September 2026 court rulings, and the $103,265 proposal.
Updated · 4 min read
How to get a green card through marriage in 2026: I-130 and I-485 in the US vs consular processing, USCIS fees, the new public charge rule and timelines.
Updated · 7 min read
The H-1B process for 2026: March registration, the new wage-weighted lottery, the I-129 petition and fee stack, and visa interviews with social media checks.
Updated · 6 min read
How the wage-weighted H-1B lottery works: 1 to 4 entries by OEWS wage level, what the FY2027 run showed, the pending DOL wage rule, and planning for FY2028.
Updated · 6 min read
How to apply for US citizenship with Form N-400 in 2026: eligibility, fees ($760 paper, $710 online), documents, biometrics, the interview, the civics test and the oath.
Updated · 8 min read
How the K-1 fiancé(e) visa works in 2026: eligibility, the I-129F ($675), embassy interview, social media checks, the 90-day marriage deadline and adjusting status.
Updated · 6 min read
The J-1 two-year home residency requirement explained: who is subject, what it blocks (H-1B, L-1, green card), the five waiver routes, and options like the O-1.
Updated · 6 min read
How the L-1 intracompany transfer visa works in 2026: L-1A vs L-1B, blanket L, new office rules, the full fee stack including the $4,500 extension fee, and EB-1C.
Updated · 6 min read
How continuous residence and physical presence work for US naturalization: the 30-month and 18-month rules, 6-month and 1-year absences, early filing and Form N-470.
Updated · 6 min read
The O-1A and O-1B criteria explained, evidence ideas for each, the advisory opinion, 2026 USCIS fees, and how the O-1 works as an H-1B lottery alternative.
Updated · 6 min read
The 2026 public charge rule applies to green card applications filed on or after Sept 18, 2026. Which benefits count, who is exempt, the new I-485, and the lawsuits.
Updated · 6 min read
When to file Form I-751, what evidence proves a real marriage, the $750/$700 fee, waiver options if you are divorced, and what happens at the interview.
Updated · 6 min read
Who can sponsor parents, brothers, sisters and adult children for a US green card, how long each category waits under the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, and new 2026 risks.
Updated · 6 min read
STEM OPT extension guide: eligibility, E-Verify employers, the I-983 training plan, filing window, fees, the 180-day auto-extension and 150-day unemployment limit.
Updated · 6 min read
How the TN visa works in 2026 for Canadian and Mexican professionals: border vs consulate, the USMCA profession list, fees, TD family members and new online vetting.
Updated · 6 min read
Country-by-country TPS status as of October 2026: which designations remain, which ended and when, what Mullin v. Doe changed, and options for former TPS holders.
Updated · 5 min read
How the Trump Gold Card works in 2026: the $1M gift and $15,000 Form I-140G fee, the application numbers so far, the pending lawsuit, and how it compares with EB-5.
Updated · 4 min read
How the 2025 US citizenship civics test works: who takes it, the 128-question list, how scoring stops at 12 right or 9 wrong, the 65/20 rule, and how to study.
Updated · 6 min read
What happens at the US citizenship interview in 2026: N-400 review questions, English and civics tests, good moral character questions, what to bring and results.
Updated · 6 min read
The full list of 39 countries under the 2026 US travel ban (Proclamation 10998), what full and partial bans cover, who is exempt, and how it affects green cards.
Updated · 6 min read
Who can still skip the US visa interview in 2026, the rule to apply in your home country, which visas need public social media, 221(g) delays and visa bonds.
Updated · 6 min read
Current USCIS filing fees for N-400, I-130, I-485, I-765, I-90 and more, paper vs online, plus H.R. 1 fees, the October 16, 2026 increases, and premium processing.
Updated · 8 min read
How to read the USCIS processing times tool, when your case counts as delayed, how to submit an inquiry or contact the Ombudsman, and what is slowing cases in 2026.
Updated · 6 min read
How to read the US Visa Bulletin: what a priority date is, the difference between Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing, and a worked example using real 2026 dates.
Updated · 6 min read
October 2026 Visa Bulletin summary: worldwide EB-2 and EB-3 retrogression, India EB-2 and EB-5 return, China advances, and USCIS accepts Dates for Filing.
Updated · 5 min read