What Was Announced? The U.S. Department of State has issued updated guidance confirming that all Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) issuances are currently paused, effective immediately. This pause applies across the board and impacts DV-2025 and DV-2026 selectees alike.   What Has Changed? The Department of State has paused the issuance of all Diversity Visas. DV applicants may still submit applications and attend scheduled interviews. No Diversity Visas will be issued while the

What Was Announced? In January 2026, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced a temporary pause on the issuance (not the processing) of certain immigrant visas for nationals of approximately 75 countries , effective January 21, 2026. While the announcement has understandably raised questions, its scope is narrower than initial headlines suggest, and it does not signal a shutdown of U.S. immigration pathways.   Affected nationals should note that this update reflects an ad

What Was Announced? Effective January 1, 2026, the United States implemented full and partial visa issuance and entry suspensions  for nationals of 39 countries pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 10998 , issued on December 16, 2025. This action is grounded in national security and vetting concerns and is legally distinct from recent visa processing pauses announced by the Department of State. This update affects visa issuance and entry eligibility, not merely processing ti

What Was Announced? The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has expanded the list of countries whose nationals may be required to post a visa bond as a condition of receiving certain U.S. visitor visas. The updated guidance, effective on a rolling basis beginning in late 2025 and continuing into January 2026, is part of a pilot program aimed at encouraging compliance with visa terms, particularly timely departure from the United States.   What Is a Visa Bond? A visa bond is a fina

What Was Announced? On December 23, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized a rule implementing a wage-weighted selection methodology for the H-1B cap registration process. The rule was published on December 29, 2025, will become effective on February 27, 2026, and will apply to the FY 2027 H-1B cap registration season.   The new framework moves away from a purely random lottery and instead assigns greater selection weight to higher wage levels, which DHS de