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

On September 16, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS), working with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), confirmed that all immigrant visas available under the Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) unreserved category were issued for fiscal year 2025. Program Overview Under INA § 203(b)(5), EB-5 immigrant visas are limited to 7.1% of the total annual employment-based quota. Of that amount, 68% is designated for “unreserved” categories—those not set asi

Williams Global Law is proud to share that Simone Williams, Founding Partner, had the honor of participating as a panelist at the Global Power Forum 2025 during the United Nations General Assembly ("UNGA") week in New York City. The event was hosted by the Center for Economic Business Development, the Global Power Women’s Conference, the International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership, and the African Leadership Organization, with support from international sponsors and p

On September 19, 2025 , President Trump signed the Proclamation “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers.” The directive...

On September 19, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order launching the “Gold Card,” a new visa pathway positioned within the...

On August 15, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its policy guidance on how to calculate a child’s age...

On August 19, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued new policy guidance instructing officers to evaluate...

On August 29, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the rollout of a new electronic payment system for...

On August 1, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued updated policy guidance for family-based immigrant visa...

Washington, D.C. — Simone Williams , Managing Partner of Williams Global Law, PLLC , is pleased to officially announce a strategic...

Williams Global Law is pleased to share that our Managing Partner, Simone Williams, recently served as a featured speaker for a high-impact webinar titled “EB5 2025: How Canadian and Latin American Investors Are Securing U.S. Residency.” Hosted in collaboration with American Life, the session offered timely guidance to prospective EB-5 investors navigating immigration, compliance, and strategic planning across borders. Drawing on over two decades of experience—including h

Williams Global Law is pleased to share that our Managing Partner Simone Williams will be leading an upcoming webinar hosted by the DC Chamber of Commerce for DC Chamber members tomorrow! DETAILS HERE: Global Talent, Local Impact: Immigration Hot Topics for Employers 📅 DATE: Thursday, July 31, 2025 🕚 TIME: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM EST 👉 REGISTER AT THIS LINK Presented by the DC Chamber’s International Business Committee, this one-hour seminar is tailored for Chamber membe

Williams Global Law is honored to partner with American Life, a respected and leading EB-5 Regional Center, for an upcoming webinar co-hosted by our Managing Partner, Simone Williams and Business Development Director, Jennifer Smith of American Life. THE DETAILS ON THE EVENT ARE AS FOLLOWS: EB-5 2025: How Canadian & Latin American Investors Are Securing U.S. Residency 📅 DATE: Wednesday, August 6, 2025 🕚 TIME: 1:00 PM EST 👉 REGISTER ON ZOOM This investor-focused

We are thrilled to share that our Managing Partner, Simone Williams served as a featured speaker at the 2025 AILA Paralegals Conference, hosted by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) in Las Vegas. The two-day event brought together legal support professionals from across the country for in-depth training, panel discussions, and networking. Ms. Williams joined a distinguished group of speakers to share practical insights on employment based visas, immigrat

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) , introducing a new $250 "Visa Integrity Fee" for most...