Understanding the 2025 USCIS Policy Updates

U.S. Department of State Launches 12-Month Visa Bond Pilot Program Starting August 20, 2025, select B-1/B-2 visa applicants from specified countries—initially Malawi and Zambia—must post a refundable bond of $5K, $10K, or $15K to secure visa issuance.

In a sweeping and controversial move, the U.S. government under President Donald Trump has reinstated and expanded travel bans affecting 19 countries, effective June 9, 2025. The new proclamation—Presidential Proclamation 2025-10669—was signed on June 4, 2025.

As U.S. border and immigration agencies enhance security protocols following the latest presidential travel bans, individuals returning to the U.S. under the Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR) policy are reporting longer inspections, delays, and more frequent secondary screenings.

On May 30, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to terminate the CHNV humanitarian parole program, a major initiative launched under the Biden administration. This decision marks a significant shift in immigration policy.

As of May 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced several policy updates that significantly impact employers managing foreign labor. These changes affect visa programs, employment authorization, and compliance procedures. This article provides an overview of the key updates and their implications for employers.

During peak hiring seasons, especially in seasonal industries, the rush to onboard workers can lead to labor and immigration compliance errors. Agencies like the DOL and USCIS closely scrutinize visa programs such as H-2A, H-2B, and TN for violations related to wages, job duties, and work conditions. Staying proactive and informed is key to avoiding costly penalties and delays.

Effective January 13, 2025, USCIS now allows certain immigrants with expired Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) to continue working for up to 540 days while their renewal applications are pending. This temporary rule helps address severe processing delays and applies to refugees, asylum seekers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and spouses of work visa holders.

On January 17, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security's final rules for the H-1B and H-2 visa programs took effect. These rules modernize and improve requirements for these nonimmigrant visa programs. Employers should familiarize themselves with the revised Form I-129, which reflects changes associated with the new rules.

Starting April 3, 2025, E-Verify and E-Verify+ have updated the Citizenship Status selection during case creation. The selection "A noncitizen authorized to work" has been updated to "An alien authorized to work." Employers must ensure consistency between Form I-9 attestations and E-Verify selections to maintain compliance.