Late 2025 Immigration Changes That Can Affect Your Case Right Now

As we get to the end of 2025, a handful of new rules are changing how you pay USCIS fees, renew work permits, apply for asylum, and take the citizenship test. If you’re in the U.S. on a visa, waiting on asylum, or planning to naturalize, these are the updates you should know about before you file anything.

Asylum Filing Fees and the “Annual Fee Pause

For the first time, asylum now comes with filing fees. Form I-589 (Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal) has a new $100 filing fee, plus an extra $100 “Annual Asylum Fee” (AAF) for each year your case stays pending.

USCIS began rolling out the annual fee in October 2025, sending notices to people whose asylum cases had been pending a year or more. But a federal court in Maryland temporarily paused the Annual Asylum Fee, so USCIS has been ordered to stop enforcing and collecting the yearly payment while the lawsuit moves forward.

Right now, you still need to plan for the $100 filing fee. The separate $100 Annual Asylum Fee is temporarily paused by a court order, but that could change, so don’t ignore any notices you receive. Talk with your attorney first.

USCIS Moves to Card and Bank Payments Only

USCIS is going “cashless” for paper filings. As of late October 2025, the agency no longer accepts paper checks or money orders for filing fees. Any paper-filed form must be paid electronically by:

• Credit or debit card using Form G-1450

• ACH debit from a U.S. bank account using the new Form G-1650

If you mail USCIS a check or money order now, your whole application will be rejected and sent back as if it were never filed.

For many people, the practical issue is that you need access to a U.S. card or bank account before you file. If you don’t have one, you’ll likely need to coordinate payment with a trusted friend, family member, or your attorney’s office so your case isn’t rejected just for using the wrong payment method.

Automatic 540-Day Work Permit Extensions Are Ending

For the last few years, many people who filed EAD renewals on time automatically got up to 540 extra days of work authorization while USCIS processed their renewal. That safety net is now disappearing.

On October 30, 2025, DHS published an interim final rule that ends the 540-day automatic extension for most categories that used it, including many adjustment-of-status applicants and spouses with H-4, L-2, and E-based EADs, when they file renewals on or after that date.

If your renewal was filed before October 30, your automatic extension (up to 540 days) should continue until it expires. TPS-based and some other legally mandated auto-extensions are not affected and keep their own rules.

For everyone else, though, this means real risk of gaps in work authorization again. The safest habits now are to:

• Treat your EAD expiration date like a hard deadline.

• Aim to file renewals as early as USCIS allows, up to 180 days in advance for many categories.

• Talk with your lawyer about whether moving onto a more stable status (for example, H-1B or L-1 for a spouse on an EAD) makes sense for your long-term plans.

New 2025 Civics Test for Citizenship Applications Filed Now

If you plan to apply for U.S. citizenship, the test just got longer.

For N-400 applications filed on or after October 20, 2025, USCIS now uses the 2025 Civics Test. Officers will ask you up to 20 questions from a bank of 128 questions, and you need to answer at least 12 correctly to pass.

If you filed your N-400 application for naturalization before October 20, you’ll still take the older 2008 version (10 questions, 6 correct to pass).

For most people, this means:

• You need more time to study, because there’s a bigger list of questions.

• The good news is that USCIS has released free official study materials, including the full 128-question booklet, practice tools, and audio.

• If you’re thinking about citizenship in 2026, it’s smart to start reviewing the 2025 study guide now, not the old 100-question list you might find on older websites or YouTube videos.

New $250 Visa Integrity Fee for Many Consular Visas

If you need to apply for a U.S. visa at a consulate abroad, for example, a B-1/B-2 visitor visa, F-1 student visa, J-1 exchange visa, or work visas like H-1B, L-1, or O-1, there’s now an extra $250 Visa Integrity Fee on top of the regular State Department visa fee.

Key points:

• The fee applies to most non-visa travelers applying at U.S. embassies and consulates.

• It does not apply when you change status inside the United States with USCIS, only when a consulate issues a new visa in your passport.

• In theory, the law allows refunds if you fully obey your visa and leave the U.S. on time, but the refund rules are narrow and the process is still unclear.

What Changed in Immigration Policy in Q3 2025

The second half of the year brought tougher rules around kids “aging out,” travel for visa stamping, and how USCIS judges good moral character for citizenship. If you’re planning green card steps, trips abroad, or naturalization, these Q3 updates are especially important.

Child Status Protection Act Change Makes Aging Out More Likely

In August, USCIS changed how it applies the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). This law protects certain children from “aging out” of a green card case when they turn 21. Once a child turns 21, they are no longer considered a “child” under immigration law and usually cannot stay on the family’s green card application. CSPA can sometimes freeze a child’s age below 21 so they can stay on the case, but the new policy makes it harder to qualify for that protection.

USCIS switched to a stricter method for checking when a family’s green card spot is ready. That means more teens could lose eligibility once they turn 21, even if their parents’ case has been pending for years.

If you have kids listed as dependents on a green card case, you’ll want to:

• Track your priority date closely and know which chart applies

• Talk with your attorney early if a child is 16–20 so you can explore backup options (separate filings, different categories, or consular vs. adjustment strategy)

Naturalization “Good Moral Character” Standard Becomes More Strict

In August 2025, USCIS issued a new memo on how it decides whether someone meets the good moral character (GMC) requirement for citizenship.

Instead of just checking for certain crimes, USCIS is moving to a more holistic review of your life, with things like tax compliance, community involvement, and any behavior it considers “anti-American” or outside community norms may be weighed alongside traditional red flags.

Advocates are worried this gives officers more discretion and could make some cases more unpredictable.

If you’re thinking about applying for citizenship, it’s more important than ever to:

• Clean up any tax, child support, or criminal record issues before filing

• Be thoughtful about what you share in your application, interview, and public records

• Get a case-specific review if you’ve had past problems, public activism, or a messy history on paper

Visa Interviews Tighten: Fewer Waivers and No More Third-Country Stamping

Two State Department changes in early September made visa stamping much more demanding for travelers and visa holders:

• Interview waivers were limited as of September 2, 2025. Most non-immigrant applicants, including many H, L, F, M, J, and O-1 visa renewals, now have to appear for an in-person interview.

• As of September 6, 2025, “third-country stamping” effectively ended. In most cases, you must schedule your visa interview in your home country or country of residence, not just any consulate with a shorter wait.

For real people, this means longer wait times, fewer shortcut options like Mexico/Canada for H-1B or F-1 renewals, and more planning around international trips.

Before you travel, it’s now crucial to:

• Check visa appointment wait times in your home country

• Think carefully about leaving the U.S. while a petition or change of status is pending

• Talk with your lawyer if your current visa stamp has expired and you’re relying on just status inside the U.S.

New Visa Bond Pilot Program for Some B-1/B-2 Visitors

Starting August 20, 2025, the State Department launched a Visa Bond Pilot Program for certain B-1/B-2 visitors from countries with high overstay rates or other risk factors.

Under this program, some applicants can be asked to post a refundable bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 as a condition of getting their visitor visa. If they leave on time and follow the rules, the bond is returned. If they overstay, the bond is forfeited.

If you or your family apply for B-1/B-2 visas from an affected country, you should:

• Be ready for the possibility of a large upfront bond, on top of regular visa fees

• Decide in advance who will post the bond and how you’ll document timely departure

• Build this into your travel budget so it doesn’t come as a shock at the interview

Haitian TPS Extended After Court Blocks Early Termination

TPS for Haiti was originally set to end in September 2025, but a federal court ruled on July 1, 2025 that the government could not terminate the program that early. Because of this decision, Haitian TPS holders continue to have protection and work authorization through at least February 3, 2026. This gives families more time, but does not guarantee long-term stability.

If you or someone in your family relies on Haitian TPS, you still need to prepare for the possibility that TPS will end in 2026. Many people are now using this extra time to explore other immigration options, including asylum, family petitions or employment-based paths.

Key Q2 2025 Immigration Updates That May Affect Your Case

The second quarter of 2025 brought practical updates that may impact everyday things like getting your SSN, renewing your work permit, or keeping your documents consistent. Here’s a quick look at the changes worth paying attention to.

Social Security Numbers Take Longer After SSA Pauses Automatic Issuance

The Social Security Administration paused its Enumeration Beyond Entry (EBE) program, which used to let many people get a Social Security number automatically after filing for a work permit, green card, or citizenship. Now, a lot of applicants have to go in person to an SSA office to apply for an SSN instead of just checking a box on a form.

That means even if your work permit is approved, you might still be waiting on an SSN before you can start work, clear background checks, or open certain accounts.

This change could affect F-1 students on OPT/STEM OPT, H-4 or J-2 spouses, TPS/asylum applicants with new EADs, and new green card holders who never had an SSN before.

New Form Editions Required or Your Case Gets Sent Back

In Q2, USCIS tightened its rules on which form editions it will accept, especially for work permits. Only the 01/20/25 edition of Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) and some related forms are accepted, while older versions are rejected and mailed back.

To avoid problems, always download forms directly from uscis.gov right before you file and double-check the edition date at the bottom.

USCIS Limits Gender Markers to Male and Female

In April, USCIS updated its policy to recognize only “male” and “female” as sex markers on most immigration forms and documents. The prior flexibility around “X” or other gender identities has effectively been removed in this context.

This is especially stressful for trans, non-binary, and intersex applicants whose other IDs or passports may show a different marker. It can create mismatches between documents and add emotional and practical complexity to an already stressful process.

If your identity doesn’t fit neatly into “M” or “F,” it’s worth talking with an attorney who understands both LGBTQ+ issues and immigration before filing new applications or renewals.

TPS for Afghans Scheduled to End

DHS confirmed that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan is scheduled to end in 2025. 

If you or a family member has Afghan TPS, do not wait for the last minute. Talk with an immigration lawyer about backup options like asylum, family-based cases, Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), or other potential paths well before your TPS and EAD expire.

TPS for Afghanistan ended in July 2025. If you or a family member only had Afghan TPS (and no other status), you now face loss of protection and work authorization unless you qualify for another path, such as asylum, SIV, or a family-based or employment-based case.

CHNV Humanitarian Parole Program for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela Ends

DHS announced in March 2025 that the CHNV humanitarian parole programs would end, and the termination became official on April 24, 2025. These programs offered a legal path for many people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter the United States with temporary protection and work authorization.

If you are already in the United States under CHNV parole, your status will end on the expiration date shown on your documents. You will need another immigration option in place before that time, such as asylum, family-based filings, or another form of humanitarian relief. Creating a plan early is the best way to avoid falling out of status.

Q1 2025 Immigration Updates for Individuals and Families

Q1 brought important updates for students, workers, and families. Here’s what changed and how it could impact your next steps.

H-1B Modernization Rule and Longer Cap-Gap Protection for Students

The year started with major changes to how USCIS handles H-1B visa cases and these shifts affect workers and students, not just employers. 

One of the biggest improvements is for F-1 students on OPT or STEM OPT, as the automatic “cap-gap” protection now lasts until April 1 of the H-1B year. This gives students more breathing room and reduces the risk of falling out of status while waiting for H-1B approval.

The rule also encourages USCIS officers to follow prior approvals more consistently, which can make extensions smoother for people already in H-1B status. And for startup founders, it’s now clearer that you can be sponsored by your own company, though approvals may come in shorter periods, like 18 months.

Key changes for individuals:

• F-1 cap-gap extensions now last through April 1, 2025

• USCIS is instructed to give more deference to past approvals

• Founder H-1Bs are more viable but often shorter in validity

• Site visits and worksite consistency matter more than ever

Stricter Standards for EB-2 NIW Self-Sponsored Green Cards

In January, USCIS updated its guidance for the EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW), a popular self-sponsored green card for highly skilled professionals, researchers, and founders.

The agency now expects more concrete proof of your impact, not just potential. That means officers want to see real achievements, traction, measurable contributions, and evidence that your work is tied to national priorities like STEM, AI, healthcare, clean energy, cybersecurity, or innovation. Simply working in an important field is no longer enough on its own.

What’s different now:

• You must clearly meet EB-2 qualifications (advanced degree or exceptional ability)

• Officers are looking for strong, specific evidence of national impact

• Past achievements carry more weight than future plans

FY 2026 H-1B Lottery Details Announced

If you plan to move into H-1B status, USCIS confirmed the timeline and a major fee change for the FY 2026 lottery. The registration fee jumped from $10 to $215, and the system remains beneficiary-centric, which means you get only one chance in the lottery per passport, no matter how many employers want to sponsor you.

Important details:

• Registration dates: March 7–24, 2025

• Fee: $215 per person

• Only one entry allowed per individual, even with multiple employers

Anyone hoping for an H-1B this year will need to coordinate early, have a valid passport, and make sure everything is submitted accurately within the short registration window.

New NTA Policy Increases the Risk After Case Denials

USCIS issued new guidance that makes it more likely the agency will issue a Notice to Appear (NTA), the document that sends someone to immigration court, if a case is denied and the person no longer has a valid status.

This especially affects people whose status has expired, people who file late or incomplete applications, or individuals with potential issues related to fraud or misrepresentation. USCIS is taking a stricter approach, which means that maintaining status and filing on time is even more important.

Key points:

• More denials may now lead to NTAs

• Late filings or expired status carry a higher risk

• Address changes and timely responses are more critical than ever

Expansion of Expedited Removal and Interior Enforcement

DHS announced a nationwide expansion of expedited removal in January 2025, but a federal court has since put the interior expansion on hold. The rules are in flux, so anyone without status or with less than two years in the U.S. should get case-specific legal advice before travel or major decisions.

For people who entered without inspection or overstayed visas, this makes encounters with immigration authorities more serious. It also means some people may be removed without a full court hearing unless they request asylum and pass a screening interview.

Who is most affected:

• Individuals in undocumented or expired status

• People who have not applied for asylum or another form of relief

• Anyone unable to prove 2 years of continuous presence

Get the Guidance You Need for the Year Ahead

Immigration rules are changing fast and even small updates can affect your timeline, your work authorization, your family plans, or your path to citizenship. Luckily, you don’t have to figure all of this out alone.

At Taghavi Immigration Law, our team stays on top of every policy change, court order, and USCIS update so you always know what applies to your case and what your next steps should be. Whether you're applying for asylum, renewing a work permit, planning a green card, or preparing for naturalization, we’re here to guide you through the whole process.

If you’d like personalized help understanding how these 2025–2026 changes affect your situation, request a consultation. Tell us your story, and we’ll help you map out the strongest path forward.