US Immigration News

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the June 2026 Visa Bulletin. There is some forward movement in select employment-based categories, while certain employment-based categories for India retrogress. All cutoff dates listed below refer to the final action chart (i.e., Chart A), unless otherwise specified.

Visa Bulletin SummaryEmployment-Based, First Preference (EB1) Category

In the EB1 category, China’s cutoff date remains at 01.Apr.2023, while India’s cutoff date retrogresses to 15.Dec.2022. The EB1 category remains current for all other countries of chargeability.

Employment-Based, Second Preference (EB2) Category

In the EB2 category, India’s cutoff date retrogresses to 01.Sep.2013. EB2 China still has a cutoff date of 01.Sep.2021. The EB2 cutoff date for all other countries is current for June 2026.

Employment-Based, Third Preference (EB3) Category

EB3 India’s cutoff date inches forward to 15.Dec.2013, and China’s EB3 cutoff date advances to 01.Aug.2021. The EB3 cutoff date for all other countries of chargeability remains at 01.Jun.2024.

EB3 Other Workers

In the EB3 Other Workers category, India’s cutoff date advances to 15.Dec.2013. For China, the cutoff date remains at 01.Apr.2019. The EB3 other workers category remains at a cutoff date of 01.Feb.2022 for all other countries of chargeability.

Employment-Based, Fourth Preference (EB4) Category

In the EB4 category, the cutoff date remains at 15.Jul.2022. This cutoff date also applies to the EB4 program for certain religious workers, which has been renewed through midnight of 30.Sep.2026. After that, if the program is not renewed by Congress, it will become unavailable.

Employment-Based, Fifth Preference (EB5) Category

The EB5 unreserved category for India remains at 01.May.2022, and China’s unreserved cutoff date remains at 22.Sep.2016. The EB5 category remains current for all other chargeability areas and for the three EB5 set-aside categories (rural, high unemployment, and infrastructure) across all countries.

Family-Based, Second-Preference (FB2A and FB2B) Category

In the FB2A family-based category, the cutoff date advances to 01.Jan.2025 for all countries. In the FB2B family-based category, the cutoff date advances to 22.Sep.2017 for all countries except Mexico and the Philippines.

Conclusion

The June Visa Bulletin states that “dates for filing and final action dates had been advanced across various immigrant visa categories in prior months” and warns that “retrogression may be necessary in the upcoming months” and that “visa categories may become ‘Unavailable’ prior to the end of the fiscal year if annual limits, category limits, or pro-rated per-country limits are reached. We will continue to monitor and report on movement and predictions related to the monthly visa bulletin. Subscribe to the free MurthyBulletin to receive weekly updates on the latest in U.S. immigration.

 

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Becoming a U.S. citizen takes years of work and patience. So when the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) receives your Form N-400 and then goes silent, the frustration can feel unbearable. Months pass after you have cleared your interview and met every requirement with nothing more than a status update that reads, “Case is being actively reviewed.”

What many applicants do not realize is that federal law gives them real tools to force the USCIS to act. Two different lawsuits, a writ of mandamus and a Section 1447(b) petition, can compel the agency to make a decision. They are not the same, and choosing the wrong one, or filing too early, can result in a case dismissal.

How Long Should Naturalization Take?

The USCIS currently takes roughly six to ten months to process a typical N-400. Some field offices are faster; others run much longer. But the point at which a delay becomes legally actionable depends on where in the process your case is stuck. The law draws a sharp line between delays before the interview and delays after it.

Path 1: Writ of Mandamus / APA Action for Pre-Interview Delays

A writ of mandamus is a court order compelling a government official or agency to perform a duty it is legally required to carry out. Typically, in the immigration context, this means asking a federal judge to order the USCIS to stop delaying and actually issue a decision on a case.

The legal authority comes from two sources used together: the Mandamus Act (28 U.S.C. § 1361), which gives federal courts jurisdiction to compel federal officials to act, and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. §§ 701-706), which independently authorizes courts to set aside agency action unreasonably delayed.

This path fits best when the USCIS has never scheduled your interview, or when there has been an extraordinary delay before any decision. The delay genuinely must be unreasonable compared to the agency’s normal processing times. Courts will not step in simply because an applicant has grown impatient.

A mandamus court has limited power. It can order the USCIS to act, such as by scheduling an interview or issuing a decision, but it cannot decide the application itself. A favorable outcome from a mandamus lawsuit sends the case back to the USCIS with a deadline.

Path 2: Section 1447(b) Petition for Post-Interview Delays

Section 1447(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) has a clear trigger. Once 120 calendar days have passed since the naturalization interview with no decision, you have a statutory right to petition the federal district court for a hearing.

Unlike a mandamus action, a Section 1447(b) court has direct authority over your application. The judge can decide the case outright or send it back to the USCIS with a strict deadline, sometimes as short as 30 to 45 days. Most courts prefer to remand rather than hold their own citizenship hearing.

If your interview took place and 120 days have elapsed, Section 1447(b) almost always is the better route. It is faster, requires less legal work, and gives the court more power over the outcome. If your interview has not happened yet, mandamus is your only option.

That said, the outcome is not guaranteed. If there are real eligibility issues, such as a pending background check finding or a question about good moral character, the lawsuit cannot force approval. It spurs the USCIS to action, but the merits of your case still determine the decision.

Venue: Where to File

Section 1447(b) suits must be filed in the federal district where the applicant currently resides, not where the interview was held. Mandamus actions offer more flexibility on venue, which can matter strategically since different circuits handle immigration delay cases differently.

Before You File

For a mandamus action, courts expect applicants to have tried normal channels first. This usually means submitting a service request through myUSCIS, contacting the USCIS Ombudsman, and reaching out to a U.S. Senator or Representative. Document every inquiry. For a Section 1447(b) suit, such effort is not required. Just count 120 days from the interview date, confirm no decision has been issued, and you can file.

Conclusion

A naturalization delay is not something you have to accept in silence. Federal law provides two meaningful tools for applicants to hold the USCIS accountable. If your interview has not been scheduled and the wait has become unreasonable, a mandamus action can compel USCIS to move. If your interview is behind you and 120 days have passed, Section 1447(b) offers one of the clearest statutory rights in all of immigration law. Filing a lawsuit is often the single most effective way to cut through bureaucratic inertia and finally reach the oath ceremony. If your case has stalled without explanation, speaking with an experienced immigration attorney is the right first step.

 

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ICE alleges more than 10,000 potential fraud cases related to the OPT program. No specifics have been provided yet, but foreign national students should be reminded to properly comply with OPT requirements!

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/12/ice-optional-practical-training-fraud-00916797

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A longtime supporter of United Way, Sheela Murthy is the chair of the 2025–2026 Tocqueville Society. Championing the organization locally and globally for more than 20 years, Sheela is an enthusiastic and passionate supporter of United Way’s work in Northeast Florida. In the past, she has guided initiatives ranging from chairing Women United in Central Maryland to global efforts that helped launch three United Ways abroad. She’s also been part of United Way of Central Maryland’s Million Dollar Roundtable — becoming its first female member and bringing her trademark generosity and enthusiasm to the group.

People sometimes ask: when one makes a donation to the United Way — whether in Maryland, Florida, or elsewhere — who actually benefits? What is the funding used for? Since United Way itself is not primarily a direct-service organization, how does its philanthropy function?

The answer lies in understanding the distinctive role United Way plays within the nonprofit ecosystem. Rather than operating as a single charity focused on one issue, United Way acts as a community-wide convener, strategist, fundraiser, and grant maker. Its model is designed to identify the most pressing local needs, bring together public and private stakeholders, and distribute funds to carefully vetted nonprofit organizations that are already embedded in the community and delivering services on the ground.

Across Maryland and Florida where Ms. Murthy is a “Tocqueville donor”, United Way organizations commonly focus on several interconnected areas: education, health, financial stability, youth opportunity, and community resilience. In practical terms, this means supporting programs such as early childhood literacy initiatives, after-school mentoring, food security programs, mental health counseling, emergency housing assistance, workforce development, transportation access, senior care, and financial coaching for struggling families. Many local United Ways also fund crisis hotlines such as 211, which connects residents to social services ranging from rental assistance to addiction treatment.

What distinguishes the United Way approach is not simply that it funds nonprofits, but that it attempts to fund systems rather than isolated acts of charity. Local United Ways typically conduct extensive community-needs assessments, analyze demographic and economic data, and work with volunteer review panels made up of civic leaders, professionals, and residents to determine where resources can have the greatest measurable impact. is generally competitive, transparent, and outcome-driven, with nonprofits required to demonstrate accountability, measurable results, collaboration, and fiscal responsibility.

For example, in Maryland, Community Impact grants are awarded to nonprofit programs aligned with strategic goals in education, health, and financial stability. In Northwest Florida, United Way emphasizes “investing in partnership,” recognizing that no single organization can solve complex social problems alone. Similarly, several United Ways around the country now support collaborative initiatives where multiple nonprofits work together on issues such as literacy, food insecurity, housing, and mental health.

This model also helps reduce duplication of services and fragmentation of philanthropy. Rather than donors having to independently evaluate dozens or hundreds of nonprofits, United Way functions as a trusted intermediary that performs due diligence, monitors outcomes, and encourages coordination between agencies. In fact, within the nonprofit world, receiving United Way funding has historically been viewed as a sign that an organization has met rigorous standards of legitimacy and accountability.

Ultimately, when one donates to United Way, the contribution supports far more than a single program. It helps sustain a network of organizations, partnerships, volunteers, and initiatives designed to strengthen the social infrastructure of a community. The goal is not merely temporary relief, but long-term community capacity — creating systems through which families and individuals can achieve greater stability, opportunity, and resilience.

 

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Answer

No. The primary (or principal) applicant must enter before or at the same time as derivative family members with visas. (12.May.2026)

Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on our FREE online services, click here. Access more FAQs here.

 

 

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The post My family’s and my immigrant visas were all approved, with me as the principal applicant and my spouse and children as derivative beneficiaries. Can my derivative family members enter the United States using their immigrant visas before I do? appeared first on Murthy Law Firm | U.S Immigration Law.

Answer

There is no requirement that an employee be in H1B status for an employer to pursue the PERM labor certification process on the employee’s behalf. An employer may generally begin the PERM process regardless of whether the employee was selected in the H1B lottery or currently holds H1B status. (12.May.2026)

Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on our FREE online services, click here. Access more FAQs here.

 

 

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The post I was not selected in the H1B lottery. Does that mean my employer cannot proceed with the PERM labor certification process for me? appeared first on Murthy Law Firm | U.S Immigration Law.

Answer

Generally, a conditional green card holder may travel internationally using the expired green card together with the valid extension notice from the petition to remove conditions.

However, some countries, such as Mexico, may not permit entry to individuals traveling with an expired U.S. green card unless they also have a visa for that country. These restrictions are based on the entry requirements of the foreign country and typically should not affect the individual’s ability to return to the United States, provided they carry the proper U.S. immigration documents. (12.May.2026)

Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on our FREE online services, click here. Access more FAQs here.

 

 

Copyright © 2026, MURTHY LAW FIRM. All Rights Reserved

The post I am a conditional green card holder with an expired green card, but I have an automatic extension based on the receipt notice for my petition to remove conditions. Does this place any restrictions on my international travel? appeared first on Murthy Law Firm | U.S Immigration Law.

USCIS is seeking renewed OMB approval for Form AR-11 and proposes to expand it to require that noncitizens also report receipt of means-tested public benefits, employment, and schooling when reporting an address change. Public comments accepted through 06.Jul.2026 at regulations.gov (Docket: USCIS-2008-0018). https://www.govinfo.gov/…/FR-2026-05-07/pdf/2026-09107.pdf

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