Background According to reports, practitioners alerted the Department of State (DOS) on February 10, 2026, that its Travel Docs site erroneously stated that China was included among dozens of countries for which immigrant visa processing has been paused as of January 21, 2026. DOS subsequently removed the statement from its website. What Was Announced? In January 2026, the Department of State temporarily paused issuance of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries p

What Was Announced? On February 20, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled Employment Authorization Reform for Asylum Applicants (91 FR 8616; RIN 1615-AC97). The proposal would significantly amend existing regulations governing employment authorization for individuals with pending asylum applications. DHS states that the objective is to deter meritless filings and address prolonged adjudication backlogs. Wh

Williams Global Law is proud to host Pathways and Passports , our official podcast series where our Founder & Managing Partner, Simone Williams talks all things immigration for educational purposes. This platform delivers strategic conversations on U.S. immigration, global mobility, cross-border investment, and international business expansion, designed for foreign nationals, investors, founders, and international enterprises navigating the U.S. market. Each episode offe

As Co-Chair of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce’s International Business Development Committee, Simone Williams is pleased to extend an invitation to a select group of business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs to attend the inaugural monthly business series of 2026, to be held on Thursday, March 31st at the DC Chamber of Commerce. Event Theme: Trade, Finance, Capital & International Growth This high-level, in-person forum will convene leaders at the intersection of trade,

On March 12th, Williams Global Law will convene a distinguished panel of industry experts for a focused webinar tailored to Canadian investors and families exploring long-term U.S. mobility through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. The session will be led by Simone Williams, Founder and Managing Partner of Williams Global Law and former General Counsel to a multi-million-dollar EB-5 Regional Center, alongside: Alexandra Loveless, Co-Founder of the EB-5 Rural Alliance wit

On February 14th, Simone Williams was honored to participate as a featured speaker in The Power Visionary Preview 2025/2026 Edition, led by Dr. Ibifuro Ken-Giami and hosted by Amazons Watch Magazine and published by the Centre for Economic & Leadership Development (CELD). The event was an insightful and great success. The special edition, themed “Reflecting on Her Journey, Redefining Her Future,” celebrated women leaders who shaped 2025 through resilience and reinvention an

Williams Global Law is excited to announce the launch of our new podcast series Pathways and Passports hosted by our Founder and Managing Partner, Simone Williams . The podcast series will focus on topics involving United States immigration matters for foreign individuals and international businesses looking to expand into the United States. It will also feature timely insights and practical guidance on U.S. immigration law, with a focus on strategies for foreign nationals,

Williams Global Law is pleased to share that our Founder and Managing Partner, Simone Williams was a featured speaker on a highly attended Chinese-language livestream webinar in January 2026. The event was hosted by Lianhong Oveseas Consultants Ltd, a firm specializing in assisting Chinese immigrant investors; and was held in collaboration with College Daily, The event focused on helping Chinese investors, entrepreneurs, students and business owners understand how to str

Williams Global Law is proud to share that our Founder and Managing Partner, Simone Williams will join Dr. Ibifuro Ken-Giami as a panel speaker in February 2026, at "The Power Conversation - Global Women Leaders Share Their 2026 Vision", convened by Amazons Watch Magazine, published by the Centre for Economic & Leadership Development (CELD). The Magazine is a leading global platform dedicated to elevating women’s leadership across Africa and the world, spotlighting women shap

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

In a major development for global investors and the U.S. immigration community, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a new edition of Form G-1055, Fee Schedule, dated Nov. 14, 2025, that reduces filing fees for all EB-5-related petitions and applications. According to the agency, the updated fee schedule reverts EB-5 program fees back to their pre–April 1, 2024 levels, effectively undoing the increases implemented under the 2024 USCIS Fee Rule. This po

On October 22, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) revising the fee schedule for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. The proposal would reduce most filing fees charged by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), introduce several new petition types and corresponding fees, and realign overall program costs with current operational and processing needs. If finalized, these changes would replace the record

On October 15, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the implementation of a new $1,000 immigration parole fee , mandated by the H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill . The fee took effect October 16, 2025, and will be adjusted annually for inflation. What Is Immigration Parole? “ Parole ” allows an individual to be lawfully present in the United States temporarily without being formally “admitted.” It is not a visa or an admission but a discretionary permission gr

On September 17, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the rollout of the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test , marking the first step in a broader overhaul of the citizenship process. The rule took effect September 18, 2025, and USCIS will begin administering the new test to Form N-400 applicants who file on or after October 20, 2025 . The English reading, writing, and speaking components of the exam remain unchanged. Key Features of the 2025 Civ