On January 31, 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) introduced a final rule to enhance the integrity of the H-1B visa program. The updates focus on the H-1B registration process, online filing for key forms, fee adjustments, and more. USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou emphasized the goal of improving integrity, curbing fraud, and streamlining application processes.

https://boundless.com/blog/uscis-h-1b-program-final-rule-2024/

A bipartisan National Security Agreement, supported by the White House, brings substantial relief to H-1B visa holders and their families. Announced on Sunday, the agreement introduces automatic work authorization for approximately 100,000 H-4 visa holders, comprising spouses and children of a specific category of H-1B visa holders.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/work/us-senate-announces-plan-to-provide-100k-work-authorisation-to-spouses-and-children-of-h-1b-visa-holders/articleshow/107420992.cms

The United States has introduced a final rule targeting fraud prevention and efficiency enhancement in the H-1B visa registration process. This crucial move seeks to bolster the integrity of the H-1B visa system, widely utilized by U.S. companies to recruit foreign workers with specialized skills, particularly in the technology sector.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/work/h-1b-visa-registration-for-fy25-to-begin-on-march-6-as-us-announces-a-complete-overhaul/articleshow/107280026.cms

Today, USCIS issued a final rule adjusting immigration and naturalization fees for the first time since 2016.for more information:

https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-issues-final-rule-to-adjust-certain-immigration-and-naturalization-fees

Migrant advocates reject draft border control law, terming it a setback to back-era policies and excluding long-term undocumented immigrants. For more information:

Lawmakers and advocates fret over immigration talks after Senate border deal collapses, rushing to salvage any parts. For more information:

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/immigration/border-deals-demise-makes-future-immigration-talks-even-harder

As it seems unlikely that legislation on border security will pass in Congress, the plans being considered indicate the desire to take action before the expected rise in border numbers, which have dropped in the past month. For more information:

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/biden-administration-weighs-executive-action-border-migrants-rcna137804

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) appears likely to withstand a challenge to its funding structure, as indicated by recent oral arguments before the US Supreme Court. Legal experts observed that even conservative justices showed reluctance to conclude that the CFPB’s funding via the Federal Reserve violated the Constitution’s appropriations clause.

CFPB’s Survival Odds Improve After Supreme Court Hears Challenge (bloomberglaw.com)

As reflected in the April 2023 Visa Bulletin, final action and application filing dates for Employment-Based Fourth Preference (EB-4) immigrant visa applicants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras are now provided in the column headed “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed.” This change is necessary to bring EB-4 visa number allocation into compliance with U.S. immigration law.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/employment-based-fourth-preference-eb4-announcement.html

The Newport Beach, California-based company offers comprehensive market insights with downloadable Excel data files and historical time series for effective rent, rent growth, and occupancy data. The reports cover eight sectors, including apartments, industrial, office, strip centers, malls, self-storage, senior housing, and single-family rentals.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2023/12/14/hot-housing-real-estate-markets-2024/71905910007/