November Visa Bulletin moves EB-2 and EB-3 Rest of World dates partly forward
Affects: Employment green card applicants with PERM or NIW cases
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What changed recently
See the full policy tracker
This month in U.S. immigration
House bill introduced to end the green card lottery
Affects: Diversity Visa lottery entrants and selectees
USCIS fees rise for asylum, parole, work permits and TPS
Affects: Asylum applicants, parolees, TPS applicants and holders
Court orders DV-2027 lottery registration to open; government appeals
Affects: People who want to enter the DV-2027 lottery
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What brings you to the United States?
Pick the path closest to your situation. Each guide explains requirements, costs and timing in plain language, with links to official sources.
Investors & entrepreneurs
EB-5, E-2, due diligence, source of funds and business immigration.
Work & company expansion
H-1B, O-1, L-1, TN, PERM, EB-2 NIW, executive transfers and sponsorship.
Family & permanent residence
Family immigration, green card processes, keeping status and citizenship.
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Student and exchange visitor resources, visitor visas and ESTA.
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Taxes, Social Security numbers, banking, insurance, schools and settling in.
Forms & practical guidance
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Urgent or humanitarian:Detention & deportation helpAsylumKnow your rightsGreen card lottery (DV)
Work, investors & business
All work & business guides
Start with what you want to achieve.
Your goals, nationality, business experience, job and family circumstances all affect the options worth exploring. Work for a U.S. employer, invest, start a business or expand your company.
EB-5 / Immigrant investor
Explore a green card through investment
How the EB-5 program works, what a qualifying investment involves, and which financial and immigration risks deserve attention.
A permanent residence pathway, subject to eligibility and approval.
E-2 / Treaty investor
Start or acquire a U.S. business
Treaty nationality requirements, active business involvement, and the questions to ask before committing capital.
A temporary classification. It does not automatically provide a green card.
L-1A / Company expansion
Expand an overseas company
Transfers for qualifying executives and managers, related U.S. operations, and the separate EB-1C category.
Temporary. Permanent residence through EB-1C is a separate assessment.
H-1B · O-1 · TN / Work visas
Work for a U.S. employer
Specialty occupation, extraordinary ability and treaty professional visas, plus the H-1B lottery and fee changes.
Temporary classifications. A green card needs a separate petition.
PERM · EB-1 · EB-2 NIW / Green cards
Get a green card through your work
Employer-sponsored PERM cases, and self-petitions for extraordinary ability or work in the national interest.
Immigrant categories. Wait times depend on the Visa Bulletin for your country.
For employers / Sponsorship
Hire and keep international talent
Sponsorship costs and timelines, the H-1B lottery, PERM, I-9 compliance and site visits.
Guides for HR teams, founders and in-house counsel.
Find your visa
H-1B visa
Who qualifies for H-1B, how the wage-weighted lottery works, current...
L-1 visa
L-1A and L-1B intracompany transfers: qualifying relationships, blanket L, opening...
O-1 visa
O-1 visa requirements explained: the O-1A and O-1B criteria, evidence...
TN visa
TN visa requirements, the USMCA professions list, the Canada vs...
E-2 treaty investor visa
Treaty countries, substantial investment, marginality, ownership, renewals and family rules...
F-1 OPT and STEM OPT
OPT and STEM OPT eligibility, filing windows, unemployment limits, cap-gap,...
H-2A and H-2B visas
H-2A farm and H-2B non-farm seasonal visas: caps, supplemental visas,...
EB-1 green card
EB-1A, EB-1B and EB-1C explained: who qualifies, the evidence criteria,...
EB-2 National Interest Waiver
How to self-petition under the EB-2 NIW: the Dhanasar test,...
PERM labor certification
Step-by-step PERM: prevailing wage, recruitment, ETA-9089 in FLAG, current DOL...
EB-5 investor green card
Investment amounts, regional centers, set-aside visas, fees, timing, the 2027...
Visa Bulletin
How to read the monthly Visa Bulletin, with November 2026...
Work visa changes to know
Status as of October 28, 2026
Second court blocks the $100,000 H-1B fee, including its 2027 extension
A federal judge in Northern California blocked the agency policies that carry out the $100,000 H-1B payment, under both the 2025 proclamation and its 2026 extension, until the agencies go...
New proclamation extends the $100,000 H-1B fee to September 2027
Proclamation 11069, signed September 18, 2026, extends the $100,000 H-1B entry restriction for 12 more months, to September 21, 2027. Court orders still block collection, so the extension has no...
DHS proposes a $103,265 fee on new cap-subject H-1B petitions
In a proposed rule published August 25, 2026, DHS would charge $103,265 on each cap-subject H-1B petition filed in calendar year 2027. Cap-exempt employers, extensions and changes of employer would...
Free work & business tools
H-1B lottery odds estimator
See your entries by wage level and estimate your chance of selection.
Which work visa fits?
Answer seven questions about your job, education and nationality to see which U.S. work visas may fit you.
Visa Bulletin tracker
Check if your priority date is current, see how Visa Bulletin dates moved this month, and which chart USCIS accepts.
Sponsorship cost and timeline calculator
Employers: estimate government fees for H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN and PERM, see who must pay, and plan the timeline to a green card.
Need an employment, investor or business immigration lawyer? Email us.
For individuals, founders and employers, from one H-1B to a full hiring program.
Know the distinction
Understand the difference before you decide.
An investment program, a temporary investor classification, a company transfer and a work visa serve different purposes. This overview is a starting point for research.
| Pathway | Main purpose | Residence distinction |
|---|---|---|
| EB-5 | Qualifying investment and job creation | Immigrant category. Conditional permanent residence first, if approved. |
| E-2 | Develop and direct a qualifying U.S. business | Temporary classification. No automatic green card. |
| L-1A | Transfer a qualifying executive or manager | Temporary classification. EB-1C requires a separate eligibility assessment. |
| H-1B | Work in a specialty occupation for a U.S. employer | Temporary classification. A green card requires a separate petition, often employer-sponsored. |
| EB-2 NIW | Advanced-degree or exceptional-ability work in the national interest, without a job offer | Immigrant category. Timing depends on Visa Bulletin dates for your country. |
General information only. Nationality, business structure, prior employment, source of funds and other requirements may affect eligibility. Investment and immigration outcomes are not guaranteed.
Compare EB-5, E-2 and L-1A in depthNews & policy tracker
Open the full tracker
What's changing in U.S. immigration.
Every rule, memo and court order that changes your options: who it affects, its status, and a link to the official source.
| Change | Who it affects | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| November Visa Bulletin moves EB-2 and EB-3 Rest of World dates partly forward | Employment green card applicants with PERM or NIW cases | Announced | |
| House bill introduced to end the green card lottery | Diversity Visa lottery entrants and selectees | Proposed | |
| USCIS fees rise for asylum, parole, work permits and TPS | Asylum applicants, parolees, TPS applicants and holders | In effect | |
| Court orders DV-2027 lottery registration to open; government appeals | People who want to enter the DV-2027 lottery | Court order | |
| EB-2 and EB-3 Rest of World final action dates move back | Employment green card applicants from countries other than China and India | In effect | |
| Immigration court and BIA filing fees rise | People in immigration court or appealing to the BIA | In effect | |
| DV-2027 lottery year began with no registration and no winners | Diversity Visa lottery entrants | No registration | |
| Second court blocks the $100,000 H-1B fee, including its 2027 extension | Employers filing new H-1B petitions for workers outside the U.S. | Court order |
Status as of October 28, 2026. Each change links to its official source.
Latest news
Free tools
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Tools explain your options. They don't give an eligibility verdict or replace an attorney's advice.
Notice decoder
Got an RFE, NOID, Notice to Appear or I-797? See what it means and how long you have to respond.
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Add up USCIS, immigration court and State Department filing fees by form, online vs. paper, in one total.
Visa Bulletin tracker
Check if your priority date is current, see how Visa Bulletin dates moved this month, and which chart USCIS accepts.
Options explorer
Pick your goal and see the work, family, investor, study and humanitarian paths worth discussing with an attorney.
Free green card lottery status check
Is the DV lottery open? Not yet.
DV-2027 registration never opened on its usual schedule. A federal court has ordered the State Department to open it, and the government has appealed, so dates may change. If it opens, entry happens only at dvprogram.state.gov, where the only fee is a $1 registration charge. Never pay anyone else to enter for you.
Last checked October 28, 2026 · Full status and history →
Get a free alert the moment it opens
The resource library
Browse all resources
Research the decisions that matter.
Build your understanding before choosing a visa, an investment, moving a business, or making plans for your family.
Investors
The EB-5 immigrant investor green card
Investment amounts, regional centers, set-aside visas, fees, timing, the 2027 sunset and the risks of the EB-5 green card.
Work visas
The H-1B visa: requirements, lottery, fees and limits
Who qualifies for H-1B, how the wage-weighted lottery works, current filing fees, the $100,000 payment status, and extensions.
EB-5
How to evaluate an EB-5 project before you invest
A framework for reviewing EB-5 offerings: documents, capital stack, jobs, escrow, redeployment, fees and red flags.
Employment green cards
The EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW)
How to self-petition under the EB-2 NIW: the Dhanasar test, evidence, costs, Visa Bulletin timing and 2026 policy changes.
Investors
The E-2 treaty investor visa
Treaty countries, substantial investment, marginality, ownership, renewals and family rules for the E-2 investor visa.
EB-5
EB-5 source of funds: proving lawful money and its path
How to document the lawful source and path of EB-5 capital, including gifts, loans and property sales.
Business immigration
The L-1 visa: transferring managers and specialists to the U.S.
L-1A and L-1B intracompany transfers: qualifying relationships, blanket L, opening a new U.S. office, fees and the EB-1C path.
Business
Expanding your company to the United States
L-1, new office L-1, EB-1C, E visas, H-1B and O-1 for companies and founders, plus entity setup considerations.
Family
Family-based green cards: petitions, wait times and costs
Form I-130, F1-F4 wait times, the I-864 affidavit of support, the September 2026 public charge change and current fees.
Family
Getting a green card through marriage
Spouse of a citizen vs. green card holder, proving a real marriage, the interview, and removing conditions with Form I-751.
Moving
Moving to the United States: your first 30 and 90 days
A practical first-30 and first-90-days checklist for new arrivals: records, ID, banking, health, schools and taxes.
Moving
U.S. taxes for new arrivals: residency, worldwide income and foreign accounts
Resident vs nonresident alien, the green card and substantial presence tests, dual-status years, FBAR, FATCA and state taxes.
A practical place to begin
Turn your research into a practical plan.
01 / Clarify
Clarify your goals
Decide what matters most: work, permanent residence, business operations, family plans, or a combination.
02 / Understand
Understand the requirements
Research the relevant pathway, documentation, costs and potential risks.
03 / Prepare
Prepare your questions
Use what you learn to have more useful conversations with immigration counsel, tax advisers and other qualified professionals.
About USVisa.com
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Explore the resource libraryCan an investment qualify me for a U.S. green card?
It can through the EB-5 immigrant investor program, which generally requires investing $1,050,000, or $800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project, and creating at least 10 full-time U.S. jobs. Approval is not guaranteed, and the investment itself carries financial risk. See our EB-5 guide for details.
Is an E-2 visa the same as a green card?
No. The E-2 treaty investor visa is a temporary classification for nationals of treaty countries who invest substantially in and direct a U.S. business. It can be renewed while the business qualifies, but it does not lead to a green card on its own.
Can a foreign business owner move to the U.S. to expand a company?
Often, yes. The L-1A visa lets a multinational company transfer a qualifying executive or manager to a related U.S. office, including a new office. Owners of companies from treaty countries may also consider E-1 or E-2. Executives may later qualify for an EB-1C green card.
Can I get a green card without an employer sponsor?
Some people can self-petition: EB-1A for extraordinary ability and EB-2 National Interest Waiver for advanced-degree or exceptional-ability professionals whose work has national importance. Family sponsorship, investment, the Diversity Visa lottery and humanitarian programs are other routes that don't require an employer.
Do employers have to pay the $100,000 H-1B fee right now?
As of October 28, 2026, court orders block the government from collecting the $100,000 fee, and the government is appealing. Separately, DHS has proposed a different fee on new lottery-based H-1B petitions. This can change quickly, so check our H-1B fee guide for who is covered, the exemptions and the latest status.
Are EB-5 investments guaranteed?
No. EB-5 investments must be at risk, and immigration approval and repayment of your capital are separate issues. Review the offering documents carefully and get independent legal and financial advice before committing funds.
Does USVisa.com provide legal or investment advice?
No. USVisa.com provides general educational information. Reading our resources, subscribing or emailing us does not create an attorney-client or investment advisory relationship. If you ask, we can connect you with participating immigration attorneys who advertise on USVisa.com; they are independent of us.
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