The Trump Administration has announced a series of potential changes affecting student visas that could alter how US companies can recruit and retain foreign nationals, particularly those entering the workforce following study at US universities. These measures include: (1) applying additional scrutiny of Chinese student visas; (2) pausing all visa interviews for student and exchange

The Department of Justice is increasing its focus on corporate immigration violations, including misuse of visa programs, and has expanded its whistleblower program to cover these issues.  New Targets, New Tactics: DOJ Whistleblower Program Focuses on Immigration Enforcement | Insights | Mayer Brown

WHAT IS ALIEN REGISTRATION?

The alien registration requirement dates back to 1940, when Congress passed a law to require all foreign nationals to register with the federal government, provide biographic details, and carry proof of their registration.1 In practice, however, many foreign nationals were unaware of this requirement, because the registration process effectively occurred

On February 18, 2025, the US Department of State announced a new policy requiring more foreign nationals to attend in-person interviews to apply for nonimmigrant visas. 

The announcement rolls back a Biden Administration policy which had allowed visa applicants to qualify for the interview waiver program—and thus bypass the in-person interview requirement—if they (a) had

Attracting global talent will be key to maintaining US leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI). President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders aim to cut through barriers to accelerate AI development and amplify foreign investment to the United States to keep the nation at the forefront of this critical technology. Building the Future: Addressing the Need for

On February 5, 2025, Attorney General Pamela Bondi issued a series of internal memoranda directing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to implement policy priorities of the Trump Administration. The memos set immigration enforcement as a departmental priority, creating a high enforcement environment that impacts all employers. In this Legal Update, we examine these directives and

The Department of Homeland Security recently published a notice in the Federal Register, indicating that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem is terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under the 2023 designation for Venezuela as of April 7, 2025. We examine what this means for employers and employees alike in this Legal Update. End of the

On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” which directs federal agencies to recommend and implement enhanced vetting and screening for all foreign nationals intending to enter, or already present in, the United States.

Multiple US federal district court judges (including in the states of Maryland and Washington on February 5 and 6, respectively) have issued nationwide injunctions pausing the implementation of the recent executive order focused on the interpretation of “birthright” citizenship, which President Donald Trump signed at the beginning of his second term. The executive order, Protecting

The H-1B cap registration period for FY2026 will be held from March 7, 2025, until March 24, 2025, according to an announcement from U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services.

During this period, U.S. employers may nominate current or prospective employees they wish to sponsor for H-1B status. After the registration period, USCIS will conduct an electronic lottery to select up to 85,000 registrations, and employers will then be able to submit an H-1B petition on behalf of each selected registrant. In advance of March 7, employers should consider which current or prospective employees might benefit from H-1B status. The next registration period is expected to be held in March 2026.Continue Reading USCIS Announces Dates for H-1B Cap Registration