Insights & Updates on EB-1A Green Card and U.S. Immigration

As the U.S. Department of State released the January 2026 Visa Bulletin, Indian professionals tracking their employment-based (EB) immigrant visa progress saw notable priority date movements in the Employment-Based categories.

In late December 2025, The Independent reported that the Trump administration is advancing plans that could significantly reshape U.S. citizenship policy. This development marks one of the most consequential shifts in U.S. immigration policy in decades, as it has touched on constitutional rights and sparked intense legal debate. The report suggests that the administration is gearing up to strip more foreign-born Americans of their citizenship.

Over hundreds of Indian professionals on H-1B visas are stranded in India after their visa appointments were abruptly cancelled and postponed. They are currently unable to return to their jobs after travelling to India for visa renewals this month.

A prominent republican senator justified suspending the US Diversity Visa Lottery, commenting that it is not about racism but the security of the entire nation.

Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security Secretary, has authorised the suspension of the green card lottery program at Donald Trump’s advice. As a reason for her step, she remarked that it allowed the suspect in the Brown University and MIT shootings to enter the US.

UK government advisors are considering putting a stop to visa salary discounts for PhD holders. In defense of this decision, the advisers have argued that there is no evidence that people with doctorates tend to be paid less than other skilled workers.

From December 15 onwards, the US State Department has intensified its social media vetting procedure for skilled workers and employees. Both H-1B and H-4 professionals will be taken under the elaborate vetting procedure. Interestingly, while there is no official disclaimer, some candidates are now receiving a 221(g) slip.

In a major change in U.S. immigration policy, the Trump administration has expanded its travel ban to encompass 39 countries whose citizens face either full or partial restrictions on entry into the United States. Announced in a White House proclamation on December 16, 2025, this latest policy update marks one of the most ambitious iterations of travel curbs seen in recent decades.

In a recent update, we came to know that Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, two qualified participants in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, have been added to the expanding U.S. travel ban list under President Donald Trump’s administration.

With the pomp of the FIFA World Cup on the horizon, the U.S. Government is also ramping up screening and vetting, along with introducing some brave new measures. One such remarkable measure includes President Trump and the White House Task Force announcing a plan to deploy more than 400 additional consular officers, along with increased staffing at the high-demand agencies.

For years, visa interviews focused on paperwork, intent, and credentials. Today, however, your smartphone may matter as much as your passport. According to immigration attorneys cited by The Times of India and other news outlets, U.S. border officers are increasingly scrutinising the social media activity of foreign nationals, including holders of H-1 (speciality occupation), H-2 (temporary workers), and H-3 (trainees) visas.

A handful of H-1B and H-4 visa holders in the US are reportedly receiving emails from the consulate stating their visas have been prudentially revoked. This is happening almost concurrently with the postponement of H-1B visa interviews. Generally, these emails have caused quite a lot of stir and panic among the applicants. Many visa holders have found it difficult to make sense of the phrase: ‘Prudentially revoked.’