Manifest Law

Manifest Law Educational purposes only. Not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created or implied.

✈️ Immigration made simple and transparent.
🗽 We help you achieve your dreams, one visa at a time.
🇺🇸 Follow us for immigration tips and guidance!

09/30/2026

🚨 OCTOBER 2026 VISA BULLETIN IS OUT! 🇺🇸

New fiscal year = new movement in the Visa Bulletin

And October brings some BIG updates for people waiting for employment- and family-based green cards.

💼 EMPLOYMENT-BASED HIGHLIGHTS

🟢 EB-1: Filing dates for 🇮🇳 India and 🇨🇳 China advanced 7 months to July 1, 2024.

🇮🇳 EB-2 India: Final Action Date is available again at November 1, 2013.

🇨🇳 EB-2 China: Filing date jumped ONE FULL YEAR to January 1, 2023.

⚠️ EB-2 ROW, Mexico & Philippines: Retrogression — these categories are no longer current.

💰 EB-5 India: Final Action Date is available again at December 1, 2023.

🇨🇳 EB-5 China: Filing date jumped 4 YEARS to March 1, 2021. 📈

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 FAMILY-BASED HIGHLIGHTS

✅ F2A Dates for Filing remain CURRENT for all countries.

🇲🇽 Mexico saw movement in several categories.

🇵🇭 The Philippines saw significant advances in F1 and F4.

⭐ AND THIS IS IMPORTANT:
For October, USCIS is allowing adjustment-of-status applicants to use the Dates for Filing chart.

That could mean some applicants are eligible to file their I-485 now even though their green card cannot yet be approved.

📌 Your priority date matters.
📌 Your country of chargeability matters.
📌 Your visa category matters.
📌 And the USCIS chart for that month matters.

09/24/2026

🚨 Your company was acquired… what happens to your visa?

A merger or acquisition does NOT automatically mean your H-1B, L-1, or employment-based Green Card case is in trouble. But changes to the employer, job duties, salary, work location, or corporate structure can trigger important immigration consequences. mergers & Ac immigration.pdf

👩‍💼 Employers: Immigration should be part of your M&A checklist.
👩‍💻 Employees: Don’t panic — but ask questions early.

✨ The key is understanding what changed before it becomes an immigration problem.

📌 Save & share with someone going through a merger or acquisition!

09/15/2026

🚨🎓 GREAT NEWS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS!

A federal judge has blocked the new DHS Duration of Status Final Rule from taking effect nationwide.

The rule was scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026 and would have replaced the long-standing “Duration of Status” system for F-1 and J-1 visa holders with fixed periods of admission, generally capped at four years, and new Extension of Stay requirements.

But on September 14, U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted preliminary relief and postponed the effective date of the Final Rule nationwide.

The court found that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in showing that DHS’s rule was arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act.

📌 What does this mean for students?

For now, the new fixed-duration rule does NOT take effect as scheduled, and the existing Duration of Status framework remains in place while the litigation continues.

⚠️ This is preliminary relief—not necessarily the final word. The litigation can continue, and the government may seek further review.

09/10/2026

🚨 BREAKING IMMIGRATION NEWS: DHS has proposed eliminating the 60-day grace period for many employment-based nonimmigrant workers.

This could affect people in H-1B, H-1B1, L-1, O-1, TN, E-1, E-2, and E-3 status — as well as their dependents.

Currently, many workers may receive up to 60 days after their employment ends to find a new employer, change status, make other immigration arrangements, or leave the United States.

⚠️ Important: Nothing has changed yet. This is a proposed rule, not a final rule. The 60-day grace period remains available under the current regulations.

If finalized as proposed, however, losing your job could mean losing the immigration status connected to that employment without the additional 60-day window — potentially affecting not only workers, but also spouses and children whose status depends on them.

📅 The public comment period is open through November 10, 2026.

I’ll continue monitoring this proposal and explaining what it means for foreign workers and their families.

🔗 Read the full breakdown here:
https://manifestlaw.com/news/dhs-grace-period-proposed-rule-explainer

Save this post and share it with someone currently working in the United States on a temporary work visa.

09/10/2026

Are you an AI or Machine Learning researcher that needs a Green Card?

Check if you qualify:

09/10/2026

Calling all Electrical Enginners with green card backlogs!

09/10/2026

🚨 SEPTEMBER IMMIGRATION ALERT 🇺🇸

September brings several important immigration changes, and some have strict filing dates with NO grace period. ⚠️

📅 Sept. 15: Changes affecting F-1/J-1 Duration of Status + new forms
📅 Sept. 18: New Public Charge Rule + new Form I-485
📅 Sept. 30: I-864 grace period ends

If you’re filing for a green card or another immigration benefit, check the form edition and applicable rules before submitting your case.

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09/10/2026

🚨 UPDATE: USCIS has changed course on the new I-864!

After initially announcing NO grace period, USCIS is now allowing sponsors to continue using the older 10/17/24 edition through September 30, 2026.

📅 Starting October 1, 2026, only the new 08/24/26 edition will be accepted.

💳 The new I-864 also allows USCIS to request information from consumer reporting agencies, so sponsors with a credit or security freeze should pay close attention.

🔗 Read our full breakdown of the changes and what they mean for sponsors here:

https://manifestlaw.com/news/uscis-new-i864-edition-08-31-2026

AffidavitOfSupport

09/09/2026

🚨 UPDATE: USCIS has changed course on the new I-864!

After initially announcing NO grace period, USCIS is now allowing sponsors to continue using the older 10/17/24 edition through September 30, 2026.

📅 Starting October 1, 2026, only the new 08/24/26 edition will be accepted.

💳 The new I-864 also allows USCIS to request information from consumer reporting agencies, so sponsors with a credit or security freeze should pay close attention.

🔗 Read our full breakdown of the changes and what they mean for sponsors here:

https://manifestlaw.com/news/uscis-new-i864-edition-08-31-2026

09/09/2026

📊 NEW USCIS DATA IS OUT — AND NIW APPROVALS ARE CLIMBING. 📈

🇺🇸 EB-2 NIW
🔻 FY2025 low: ~35%
📈 Q1 FY2026: ~43%
📈 Q2 FY2026: ~48%
🚀 Q3 FY2026: ~55%

And the O-1 continues to stand out, with approval rates remaining above 90%. 🌟

But remember: higher approval rates do not mean easier cases.

USCIS is still looking closely at the evidence, particularly for NIWs. Your proposed endeavor, national importance, qualifications, impact, and overall case strategy matter.

💡 The takeaway?
Don’t wait around hoping for the “perfect” immigration climate. Focus on building the strongest case possible with the options available to you today.

Considering an O-1 or EB-2 NIW?
📩 Send me a DM or contact [email protected] to schedule a consultation.

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