Ruijie Zhang Immigration LawBusiness, family, and individual immigration counsel
Immigration Insights
Current immigration updates and practical client alerts
Updated July 15, 2026
When Does the 60-Day Grace Period Begin After H-1B or L-1 Employment Ends?
For many foreign national employees, the end of a job also starts an immigration timeline. Workers in H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, E-1, E-2, E-3, and H-1B1 status may be eligible for a discretionary grace period of up to 60 consecutive calendar days after employment ends, or until the end of their authorized validity period, whichever is shorter.
July 2026 Visa Bulletin Brings Mixed News for Green Card Applicants
The July 2026 Visa Bulletin includes both filing opportunities and new delays. For July, USCIS confirmed that family-based adjustment of status applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart, while employment-based adjustment applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart. This distinction matters because it controls whether a person may file Form I-485 during the month.
Traveling Internationally? Prepare for Possible Phone or Laptop Searches
International travelers should be aware that U.S. Customs and Border Protection may inspect electronic devices when a person enters the United States. This can include phones, laptops, tablets, external drives, and other devices carried during travel. Most travelers will not experience a device search, but the risk is important for anyone carrying sensitive personal, business, legal, medical, immigration, or confidential information.
DOL Plans Proposed PERM Modernization Rule
The U.S. Department of Labor is preparing a proposed rule that could update the PERM labor certification process, a key step in many employment-based green card cases. The rule appears in the federal regulatory agenda under RIN 1205-AC29, with a proposed rule expected in July 2026. No final rule has been issued yet, so employers do not need to change current PERM procedures at this time.
Supreme Court Confirms Birthright Citizenship
On June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court decided Trump v. Barbara, No. 25-365. The Court held that children born in the United States to parents who are unlawfully or temporarily present are citizens at birth under the Fourteenth Amendment. The ruling rejects the challenged effort to narrow constitutional birthright citizenship for covered U.S.-born children.
Supreme Court TPS Decision for Haiti and Syria
On June 25, 2026, the Supreme Court decided Mullin v. Doe, Nos. 25-1083 and 25-1084. The Court reversed lower-court orders that had paused TPS terminations for Syria and Haiti during litigation. The decision may allow DHS to move more quickly with TPS-related implementation steps, depending on the country, litigation posture, and agency guidance.
TPS Work Permit Guidance Remains Country-Specific
USCIS has posted country-specific TPS guidance for Haiti, Syria, Ethiopia, Burma/Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen. Some TPS-related Employment Authorization Documents in categories A12 or C19 are currently being treated as extended by court order, depending on the country and the card’s printed expiration date.
More Re-Entry Risk for Green Card Holders with Criminal History
On June 23, 2026, the Supreme Court decided Blanche v. Lau, No. 25-429. The Court held that the Immigration and Nationality Act does not require a border officer to have clear and convincing evidence that a lawful permanent resident committed a crime involving moral turpitude before treating the returning resident as an applicant for admission.
Temporary $750 Fee for Expedited B-1/B-2 Visa Interviews
The Department of State has created a temporary pilot program, effective July 1 through December 31, 2026, allowing certain B-1/B-2 visitor visa applicants to pay an additional $750 fee for access to an expedited interview appointment. The option will be available only at selected consular posts and only if expedited appointment slots are available.
Why H-1B Wage Review Matters Even When the Salary Is Already Set
One of the most common questions employers ask during an H-1B filing is also one of the most understandable: if the company has already offered the salary, or if the employee is already working based on an agreed salary, why does the wage need to be reviewed again?
USCIS Issues New Policy Memo on Adjustment of Status (AOS) Discretion: What It Means and What We’re Watching
USCIS recently issued Policy Memorandum (PM-602-0199, dated May 21, 2026) addressing Adjustment of Status (AOS) – the process many applicants use to apply for permanent residence from inside the United States by filing Form I-485.
June 2026 Visa Bulletin – Key Employment-Based Updates
The U.S. Department of State has announced important developments in the June 2026 Visa Bulletin, warning that increased demand may lead to further retrogression or temporary unavailability in several employment-based categories.
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General information only
Immigration rules and agency practices can change quickly. These updates are educational and do not replace advice based on your specific facts, filing history, and deadlines.
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