This week’s immigration updates include a federal court striking down the 75-country immigrant visa ban, a worldwide pause on immigrant visa appointments, and a new edition of Form I-589 required starting today. Here’s a practical overview of what you should know. 👇

On August 21, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York vacated the State Department's suspension of immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries. In CLINIC v. Rubio, Judge Jeannette A. Vargas ruled that the policy exceeded the Secretary of State's authority and violated the Immigration and Nationality Act's prohibition against nationality-based discrimination. Visa denials made solely on the basis of the ban were also set aside, and those applications must now be returned to consular officers for individual review. The government may appeal.

According to reporting by Reuters and confirmed by the American Immigration Lawyers Association, immigrant visa appointments at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide have been paused while consular officers undergo mandatory training on new public charge screening procedures. Applicants who had interviews scheduled have received notices that their appointments are being rescheduled, with new dates to be provided later. The State Department has not announced when regular appointment scheduling will resume. This pause affects immigrant visa applicants only, nonimmigrant visa categories are subject to separate processing.

3️⃣ New Edition of Form I-589 Required Starting Today 📄

Effective August 28, 2026, USCIS will only accept the 07/28/26 edition of Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal. The previous 01/20/25 edition will be rejected if filed on or after today. Applicants should ensure they are using the correct edition before filing.

Firm Updates 🎉

We are pleased to share a recent success! Our firm recently obtained Employment Authorization Document (EAD) approval for a client, allowing them to work legally in the United States. We are proud to continue supporting our clients throughout their immigration journey.

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