This week’s immigration updates include a federal court order requiring USCIS to resume processing certain employment authorization applications, an educational update explaining the difference between lawful presence and lawful status, and recent revisions to the USCIS Policy Manual that may affect immigration cases. Here’s a practical overview of what you should know. 👇

A federal judge has ordered USCIS to resume processing certain immigration benefit applications, including employment authorization requests that had previously been placed on hold under agency policy. While litigation is ongoing and the government may appeal the decision, eligible applicants should once again see movement on affected cases.
If your work permit application was delayed due to these policies, it may be worth checking your case status or speaking with your immigration attorney to determine whether the court's order could affect your case.

AILA recently published an educational article clarifying one of the most misunderstood concepts in U.S. immigration law: lawful presence and lawful status are not the same.
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they have different legal meanings and can lead to different immigration consequences.

Understanding this distinction is particularly important for individuals applying for adjustment of status, changing visa classifications, or evaluating future immigration options.

USCIS continues to revise its Policy Manual by publishing new guidance for immigration officers. While many of these updates focus on technical or procedural issues, they often become effective immediately and may impact how pending and future immigration benefits are adjudicated.
Applicants, employers, and practitioners should stay informed about these updates, as changes to the Policy Manual can influence eligibility requirements, evidence standards, and adjudication procedures across a variety of immigration benefits.

The U.S. Department of State has released the July 2026 Visa Bulletin, reflecting updates to both family- and employment-based immigrant visa categories. While some family-based categories advanced, several employment-based categories experienced retrogression or reduced visa availability due to annual visa limits and high demand. Applicants should review the latest Visa Bulletin to determine whether their priority date or eligibility has been affected.

We are pleased to share another successful case! Our firm recently obtained approval of a Refugee Travel Document for a client, helping them travel internationally while maintaining compliance with U.S. immigration requirements.

We are proud to have helped our client secure this important benefit and look forward to continuing to support them throughout their immigration journey.

If you found this update helpful, please forward it to your friends or family who might benefit.

You can also reply to this email with any questions, our team will be happy to assist you. You can schedule your appointment here.