Puyang & Wu, LLC

02/26/2026

We're starting to receive approvals on employment-based I-485s that were filed just back in October 2025. Impressively fast processing times right now.

02/20/2026

For those waiting to file I-485s — here is the Employment-Based Dates for Filing update from February 2026 to March 2026.

Overall movement: Mostly forward. No retrogression.

EB-1
China: August 1, 2023 to December 1, 2023
India: August 1, 2023 to December 1, 2023
All other countries remain Current

EB-2
Rest of World: October 15, 2024 to Current
China: remains January 1, 2022
India: December 1, 2013 to November 1, 2014

EB-3 Professionals
Rest of World: October 1, 2023 to January 15, 2024
China: remains January 1, 2022
India: remains August 15, 2014

EB-3 Other Workers
Rest of World: December 1, 2021 to June 22, 2022
China: remains October 1, 2019
India: remains August 15, 2014

Biggest movement this month:
EB-1 China and India
EB-2 Rest of World (now Current)
EB-3 Rest of World

If your priority date falls within these filing dates, it may be time to prepare your I-485.

Always confirm which chart USCIS allows for filing before submitting.

12/24/2025

Wishing everyone a warm, peaceful, and joyful holiday season. Grateful for all of your support this year. Happy Holidays!

09/24/2025

The U.S. Department of Labor has launched Project Firewall, the first proactive enforcement initiative targeting H-1B compliance. Historically, investigations were complaint-driven. Now, employers—especially H-1B–dependent companies—should expect audits focusing on wages, job codes, and public access file requirements.

We’ve outlined what this means for employers and how to prepare. Read the full update here: https://bit.ly/4gF8loR

From Reactive to Proactive Enforcement On September 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced Project Firewall, a new enforcement initiative under which the DOL will actively investigate employers for compliance with H-1B program requirements. Historically, investigations were generally...

09/05/2025

Many of the PERM certifications we’re receiving right now were filed in May 2024 (including some from early May). We are also starting to see certifications of cases filed in June 2024.

Processing times appear to be trending below 15 months. For reference, the longest wait this year peaked at nearly 17 months in March.

09/05/2025

Starting October 2025, USCIS will have armed special agents with full law enforcement powers—investigating, arresting, executing warrants, and using force under 1811 authority. USCIS is moving from service to surveillance.

09/05/2025

USCIS has issued new policy guidance on false claims to U.S. citizenship and unlawful voting in the naturalization context. The agency makes clear that anyone who falsely claims to be a U.S. citizen—such as during voter registration—or who votes unlawfully will generally be issued a Notice to Appear (NTA) for removal proceedings. Their naturalization application will also be denied for lack of good moral character.

This is a major shift because USCIS is now committing to affirmatively issue NTAs in these cases, rolling back prior non-enforcement practices. In the past, you might have been able to keep your green card even if this issue arose. Now, you risk losing not only the chance to naturalize but also your permanent resident status altogether.

09/05/2025

EOIR just announced record case completions:

722K+ cases in FY25 (highest ever)

Backlog cut by 447K since Jan 2025, now under 3.75M

09/03/2025

Sample I-601A processing time: Filed 08/11/2023, approved 08/22/2025 — just over 2 years. That’s a full year faster than what we were seeing earlier this year. Encouraging sign.

08/28/2025

We’re seeing a troubling trend:

Recently, we had two H‑1B extension filings wrongly rejected — one cap‑exempt, one cap‑subject — at Texas and Chicago.

We’ve filed similar cases the same way for years without issue, including several nearly identical filings just weeks earlier — all accepted. That’s why these rejections are so concerning.

For the cap‑exempt case, we re‑filed unchanged, even highlighting where the “missing” pages were located. USCIS rejected it again, this time claiming we failed to include pages meant for E‑2/TN filings — forms irrelevant to H‑1B.

We’ve attached a picture of our email to AILA, requesting liaison intervention.

Unfortunately, there’s little attorneys or filers can do to prevent these errors. The safest approach may be filing earlier to allow time to respond or refile if needed.

08/20/2025

We’re seeing a troubling trend of wrongful H-1B rejections. Two in one week—both citing absurd reasons (missing pages, incomplete yes/no answers, no classification stated) that were untrue. Issued from different service centers. Human error, training gap, or system issue?

08/19/2025

The State Dept began with social media vetting; now USCIS will also examine applicants for anti-Americanism.

• Applies immediately to all new & pending cases requiring discretion (e.g., adjustment of status, NIW, EB-5).

• Social media activity will be scrutinized as part of evaluating “good moral character” & discretion. Posts showing hostility to U.S. values, antisemitism, or support for terrorist/anti-American groups can weigh heavily against applicants.

• Past association with extremist or anti-American organizations = “overwhelming negative” factor.

• Applicants must document positive contributions (community service, tax compliance, employment, family ties) to offset negative factors.

• Burden of proof remains on the applicant.