Business Immigration Articles

Advisory Following White House Proclamation Imposing New 100k Fee For New H-1B Petitions https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/job-interview-g34b3d42d8_1920.jpg 1920 1220 Elsie Hui Arias Elsie Hui Arias https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4ec7ccb2fcbe3d6b076576abb9e830b6e693abd48baf31e78530dad8809c0764?s=96&d=mm&r=g September 23, 2025 February 4, 2026

Elsie Hui Arias
September 23, 2025

Advisory Following White House Proclamation Imposing New 100k Fee For New H-1B Petitions

On Friday evening of September 19, 2025, the White House issued a Proclamation restricting the entry of certain foreign nationals as H-1B workers into the United States. The Proclamation imposes an additional fee of $100,000 on employers seeking to use H-1B visas to employ foreign nationals in the U.S. This Proclamation – which is valid…

New U.S. State Department Directive Updates Requirements for Nonimmigrant Visa Processing at U.S. Embassy/Consulate https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/overcome-visa-denial.jpg 849 565 Elsie Hui Arias Elsie Hui Arias https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4ec7ccb2fcbe3d6b076576abb9e830b6e693abd48baf31e78530dad8809c0764?s=96&d=mm&r=g September 10, 2025 February 4, 2026

Elsie Hui Arias
September 10, 2025

New U.S. State Department Directive Updates Requirements for Nonimmigrant Visa Processing at U.S. Embassy/Consulate

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has updated its instructions for all foreign nationals scheduling appointments for nonimmigrant visas (e.g. F-1, H-1B, L-1, E-2, etc.) at a U.S. embassy or consulate. The following policies are effective as of September 6, 2025: Applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas (NIV) should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S.…

New USCIS Policy Places Heavier Scrutiny On “Good Moral Character” Requirement For Naturalization https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/passport-315266_1280.jpg 1269 1280 Elsie Hui Arias Elsie Hui Arias https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4ec7ccb2fcbe3d6b076576abb9e830b6e693abd48baf31e78530dad8809c0764?s=96&d=mm&r=g August 20, 2025 August 20, 2025

Elsie Hui Arias
August 20, 2025

New USCIS Policy Places Heavier Scrutiny On “Good Moral Character” Requirement For Naturalization

Reflecting a trend under the new administration to narrow eligibility for certain U.S. immigration benefits, USCIS issued a new policy memorandum on August 15, 2025 which directs its officers to place a heavier burden on applicants for naturalization to establish that they satisfy the good moral character requirement for U.S. citizenship. As background, lawful permanent…

USCIS Narrows Eligibility for Children Under Child Status Protection Act https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/family-travel.jpg 1280 854 Candice Garrett Candice Garrett https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e8a46cebfa8b3edcb43f8a25ffed9eb7656d3715b1e8b0bc6a209c9f6ece3c37?s=96&d=mm&r=g August 14, 2025 February 4, 2026

Candice Garrett
August 14, 2025

USCIS Narrows Eligibility for Children Under Child Status Protection Act

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced an update to its Policy Manual regarding the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA), which reverts back to its pre-February 14, 2023 policy. As background, for immigration purposes, a “child” is an unmarried individual who is under 21 years old. A person who is older than 21 years is ineligible…

Advisory – Caution using Advance Parole to travel https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/travel-g4d023f325_1920.jpg 1920 1231 Michele Franchett Michele Franchett https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/682142c5d71f9c57dc624eda4aa8d5049962a816ebe5177cff6265964e8d538d?s=96&d=mm&r=g February 4, 2025 February 4, 2025

Michele Franchett
February 4, 2025

Advisory – Caution using Advance Parole to travel

Many clients with pending adjustment of status applications (Form I-485) apply for and receive Advance Parole travel documents (Form I-512). The recent Executive Order pausing humanitarian parole programs does not apply to such Advance Parole documents. Nevertheless, there could be confusion over which parole documents remain valid in this rapidly-evolving immigration landscape. Individuals with underlying…

Upcoming Seminar: Immigration Issues and the 2024 Election https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/microphone-704255_1280.jpg 1280 853 Josie Gonzalez Josie Gonzalez https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8816896efe7fb845c10028176ca37d182ad7616868b08a567b1aa82c30c4b308?s=96&d=mm&r=g April 29, 2024 April 29, 2024

Josie Gonzalez
April 29, 2024

Upcoming Seminar: Immigration Issues and the 2024 Election

Presented by: Josie Gonzalez Two Wednesdays: May 15 and 22 • 9:30 a.m. – 12 noon Bethany Congregational Church 556 N. Hope Avenue, Santa Barbara Immigration is one of the top three issues impacting the outcome of the elections. Unquestionably, it is a contentious, divisive, emotionally charged, multi-faceted and seemingly insoluble issue. This two-part seminar…

USCIS Premium Processing Service Fee Increase Effective February 26, 2024 https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/uscis_data_on_application_and_petition_processing_times_feature.jpg 1000 559 Kathleen Grzegorek Kathleen Grzegorek https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fb6b517a01ce98484211b06062fd568530868792796c102835e8a058175751b0?s=96&d=mm&r=g January 8, 2024 January 8, 2024

Kathleen Grzegorek
January 8, 2024

USCIS Premium Processing Service Fee Increase Effective February 26, 2024

The USCIS has announced an increase of the Premium Processing fee that applies to requests for expedited adjudications of eligible applications and petitions. The premium processing service is only available for applications/petitions and categories identified as eligible on the USCIS website. Any Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, received on or after February 26,…