Search
Contact
Login
Share this article
While Parent visa applications must still be submitted via paper form, applicants are now able to import applications into the online ImmiAccount service.
Key Points:
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.
Copyright © 2025 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it has reached the additional H-2B visa cap made for returning workers for the early second half of fiscal year (FY) 2025 with start dates from April 1 to May 14, 2025.
This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has announced the call for applications for grants to study, research or train in legally recognized Italian educational institutions for the 2025-26 academic year.
The State Department posted reminders for summer travel, including the REAL ID requirement at U.S. airports for domestic flights starting May 7, 2025.
Additional Information: A complete list of acceptable identification that are REAL ID compliant can be found here. TSA strongly encourages travelers to check this list again before traveling as it is subject to change without notice.
Copyright© 2025 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
The Labor Department posted updated processing times for permanent labor certification (PERM) applications and prevailing wage determination (PWD) requests.
PERM Processing Times: As of April 1, the department was adjudicating PERM applications filed in December 2023 and earlier and reviewing appeals for reconsideration filed in February 2025 and earlier.
Average Number of Days to Process PERM Applications
PWD Processing Times: As of April 1, the National Prevailing Wage Center is completing the processing of PWD requests filed in:
Redeterminations were being considered on appeals filed in December 2024 and earlier for both H-1B visa cases and PERM cases.
Center Director Reviews were being conducted for both H-1B visa cases and PERM cases filed in August 2024 and earlier.
A U.S. District Court judge’s ruling on April 14 temporarily blocked the Department of Homeland Security from moving forward with the termination of categorical parole programs for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela (CHNV) scheduled to take effect April 24.
Additional Information: On March 31, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California paused the termination of the 2023 Temporary Protected Status designation for Venezuela, pending further litigation. BAL continues to monitor this litigation and related cases.
Update on applications received for requested date of need from Oct. 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025 (fiscal year (FY) 2025 first half of the visa cap):
The Department of Labor (DOL) reported that as of April 15, a total of 5,909 cases were issued Final Decisions. Certified positions for this period were allocated for 110,620 workers.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services received enough petitions to reach the additional 20,716 H-2B visas made available for returning workers for the first half of FY 2025 with start dates on or before March 31, 2025.
Update on applications received for requested date of need from April 1, 2025 (FY 2025 second half of the visa cap):
As of April 15, a total of 6,860 cases were issued Final Decisions. Certified positions for this period were allocated for 99,061 workers.
DOL completed processing of the following groups who filed between Jan. 1-3:
DOL is still assigning additional groups and processing cases submitted weekly from January through April 5.
*Indicates a change in the numbers previously reported by DOL for this group.
Background on Assignment Groups: The initial H-2B Assignment Group (i.e., Group A) will always include the number of H-2B applications containing a sufficient amount of worker positions to reach the applicable numerical visa cap, even if the numerical limits of the Immigration and Nationality Act are subsequently changed. Additional Assignment Groups are assigned in ascending sequential order for all remaining H-2B applications that were filed during the initial three-day filing window that requested the earliest start date of work permitted. Each H-2B Assignment Group after Group A (e.g., Group B, Group C, etc.) will total no more than 20,000 worker positions, or roughly 1,000 applications per group. More background on H-2B Temporary Labor Certification Program and the origin of Assignment Groups can be found here.
Learn more about H-2B visas here.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that El Salvador is now an official Global Entry partner country.
Additional Information: Other Global Entry partner countries include Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, the Dominican Republic, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
The 2025 May Visa Bulletin shows a six-month retrogression in the EB-5 unreserved visa category preference for India. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced all employment-based preference categories must use the Final Action Dates chart in the bulletin.
Additional Information: The State Department also noted that it may become necessary to establish a Final Action Date for Rest of World countries if demand and number use continues to increase.
Final Action Dates for the other employment-based visa preference categories in the 2025 May Visa Bulletin remained the same except for modest advancement in the EB-3 visa category for India.
The U.S. State Department released the May Visa Bulletin. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced filings for employment-based visa preference categories must use the Final Action Dates chart, which remain the same as April except for India’s modest EB-3 advancement by 14 days.
Final Action Dates:
EB-1 visa
EB-2 visa
EB-3 visa
Final Action Dates Chart for Employment-Based Visa Applications
Category