http://www.contreras-lawgroup.com/, http://www.h-2visas.com/

Contreras Law Group, LLC, 1040 Kings Highway North, Suite 302, Cherry Hill, NJ (2026)

08/27/2026

🚨 IMMIGRANT VISA INTERVIEWS ARE BEING PAUSED WORLDWIDE

The U.S. Department of State has confirmed that immigrant visa appointments at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world are being adjusted while consular officers complete new training on public charge inadmissibility.

This can affect people completing green card cases through a U.S. consulate, including:

✅ Spouses and other relatives of U.S. citizens
✅ Family-preference immigrants
✅ Employment-based immigrants
✅ PERM and EB-3 workers completing consular processing

The State Department has not publicly announced a firm date for normal interviewing to resume.

Importantly, this does not mean all U.S. visa interviews have been cancelled. The current worldwide pause concerns immigrant visa processing, not every nonimmigrant visa category.

Applicants whose interviews are postponed should carefully monitor notices from the embassy or consulate and should not make new travel arrangements until a replacement appointment is confirmed.

The bigger question may be what happens when interviews resume. The training is focused specifically on public-charge determinations, which means immigrant visa applicants may face significantly greater financial scrutiny going forward.

General information only. Not legal advice.

08/21/2026

🚨 Major Advance Parole Change: A New BIA Decision Could Affect Travelers With Prior Unlawful Presence

The Board of Immigration Appeals issued a precedential decision on August 13 overruling Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly, a rule immigration practitioners have relied on since 2012.

The BIA now says that travel outside the United States with advance parole can count as a “departure” for purposes of the 10-year unlawful-presence bar.

This does NOT mean everyone with advance parole is subject to the bar.

But if someone accumulated one year or more of unlawful presence, the decision could significantly change the consequences of future travel.
The BIA stated that its new rule will apply prospectively.

The practical lesson is important:

An advance-parole document gives permission to travel and seek parole. It does not necessarily answer whether leaving the United States will trigger another immigration consequence.

Anyone with prior unlawful presence should understand that issue before making international travel plans.

08/19/2026

U.S. CRACKDOWN ON “BIRTH TOURISM” IS EXPANDING

The State Department has created a new Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force and says it has already revoked more than 600 visas worldwide as part of the initiative.

The government is reviewing:

• Prior U.S. travel
• Visa applications
• Travel histories
• The stated purpose of prior trips
• Possible misrepresentations to consular or immigration officers

Important: Pregnancy alone does not automatically make someone ineligible for a visitor visa.

The bigger issue may be whether the traveler was truthful about the purpose of the trip.

A false statement about travel plans, medical treatment, or the reason for entering the United States can create serious immigration consequences that may affect future visas or admission.

If you previously gave birth in the United States or have a complicated visitor-visa history, it may be wise to review what was previously disclosed before applying for another visa or traveling again.

Contreras Law Group, LLC

General information only. Not legal advice.

08/17/2026

A new DHS rule effective August 11, 2026 gives USCIS authority to require certain immigration forms to be filed electronically.

Important: this does not mean every USCIS form became online-only overnight.
Instead, USCIS can now phase in mandatory e-filing for eligible forms.

What this means for applicants, families, and employers:

• Filing methods may change form by form
• USCIS online accounts will become increasingly important
• Supporting evidence may need to be uploaded electronically
• Payment and submission procedures may change
• Applicants must follow the current instructions for each specific form

And one key point:

Electronic filing may make submission easier, but it does not make immigration law simpler.

Applicants still need to prove eligibility, submit the correct evidence, and make sure the information provided is accurate and consistent.

Before filing, verify the current USCIS instructions and make sure the case is ready to be submitted correctly the first time.

Contreras Law Group, LLC
General information only. Not legal advice.

08/14/2026

⚠️ USCIS UPDATE: Filing mistakes may now be more costly.

Effective August 5, 2026, USCIS restored broader discretion to deny certain immigration applications and petitions without first sending a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID).

That means applicants should not assume USCIS will always give them another opportunity to provide missing evidence.

A denial could potentially result in:

• Lost government filing fees
• Additional filing costs
• Months of delay
• Missed immigration deadlines
• Problems with status or work authorization in some cases
And simply refiling may not always solve the problem. By the time a decision is issued, an I-94 may have expired, employment authorization may be ending, or other circumstances may have changed.
Immigration forms can look simple. The legal requirements behind them often are not.

Before filing, make sure your case is complete, consistent, and supported by the right evidence.

The best time to find a problem is before USCIS makes a decision.
Contreras Law Group, LLC

General information only. Not legal advice. The consequences of a denial vary by case.

08/12/2026

🚨 H-2A EMPLOYERS: New Wage Rates Are in Effect

New H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs) took effect August 3, 2026, and agricultural employers should review their payroll immediately.

The amount an employer must pay may depend on the worker’s state, occupation, skill level, and other applicable wage requirements.

⚠️ One important compliance point:

If the new applicable wage is higher, you may be required to increase wages for workers who are already employed under an active H-2A contract.

But if the new AEWR is lower, that does not necessarily mean you can reduce wages. A higher wage promised in the approved H-2A job order may still control.

✅ H-2A employers should review:

• Current worker pay rates
• Approved ETA-790/790A job orders
• Occupational classifications
• Skill-level requirements
• Other applicable federal or state wage requirements
• Payroll effective dates

Don't assume the wage approved at the beginning of the season remains the correct wage for the entire contract.

H-2A compliance continues after your workers arrive.

📞 Have questions about how the new wage rates affect your H-2A workforce?

Contreras Law Group, LLC
We help agricultural employers navigate the H-2A process and compliance requirements.

This post is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.

08/10/2026

Seasonal or Peakload? Choosing the right temporary need category is one of the most important decisions in an H-2B petition.

Although these two categories are often confused, they have different legal requirements and require different supporting evidence.

🌿 Seasonal Need

Your need occurs during a predictable season or recurring period each year, and you do not employ workers in the requested position outside of your seasonal period of need.

📈 Peakload Need

You employ workers in the requested position year-round, but during certain times of the year, your business experiences a temporary increase in demand and you need to supplement your permanent workforce with additional workers.
Selecting the wrong category—or using evidence that doesn't support it—can delay your case or make it more difficult to establish temporary need.

After 17 years dedicated to the H-2B program and thousands of petitions filed across a wide range of industries, we've learned that no two employers are exactly alike. Evaluating your business operations and developing the right legal strategy from the beginning can make a significant difference in the strength of your petition.

Not sure which category applies to your business? We'd be happy to help evaluate your temporary need.

08/07/2026

Every immigration case begins with hope.

For some, it's the hope of reuniting with family.

For others, it's the hope of building a business, creating jobs, earning citizenship, or giving their children opportunities they never had themselves.

Behind every petition, every application, and every interview is a person—or an employer—with goals, sacrifices, and dreams for the future.

Immigration law is about more than forms and deadlines. It's about helping people move forward.

At Contreras Law Group, we're grateful to be part of those journeys every day.

Whether we're helping an employer build their workforce, a family reunite, or a client take the Oath of Allegiance, we're reminded that every approval represents a new beginning.

Here's to new opportunities, new beginnings, and the people courageous enough to pursue them.

08/05/2026

How early should employers start preparing for an April 1 H-2B season?

Earlier than many realize.

One of the first steps in the H-2B process is obtaining a Prevailing Wage Determination from the U.S. Department of Labor. That determination is required before the labor certification can be filed and typically takes at least one month to receive.

But timing isn't the only reason to start early.

Preparing a strong H-2B petition takes more than completing forms. It takes time to evaluate your business operations, determine the appropriate temporary need category, identify the strongest supporting evidence, and develop a strategy tailored to your specific circumstances.

After 17 years dedicated to the H-2B program and thousands of petitions filed across a wide variety of industries, we've learned that every employer's case is unique. Often, we're able to identify evidence and develop strategies that employers hadn't considered, helping present the strongest possible case for temporary need.

To ensure we have sufficient time to properly prepare each petition, our deadline for accepting new H-2B cases with April 1 (or earlier) start dates is September 1.

If you're planning to hire H-2B workers next spring, now is the time to start the conversation.

08/03/2026

🚨 Student Visa Update

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has finalized a rule that will significantly change how many F-1, J-1, and I visa holders are admitted to the United States.

For years, many international students were admitted for "Duration of Status (D/S)," allowing them to remain in the U.S. as long as they maintained their status. Under the new rule, many students will instead receive a fixed admission period, which may require some students to apply for an extension with USCIS if they need additional time to complete their program.

Although the new rule does not affect every student in the same way, it places an even greater importance on understanding your admission period, maintaining your status, and planning ahead.

If you are currently studying in the United States—or plan to in the future—it's important to understand how these changes could affect you.

📖 Read our latest blog for a detailed explanation of the new rule, who it affects, and what international students should do next.

🔗 Read the full article: https://contreras-lawgroup.com/f/dhs-ends-duration-of-status-for-f-and-j-visa-holders

📞 Questions? Contact Contreras Law Group to discuss your options.

Contreras Law Group, LLC

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