U.S. Immigration Alerts

U.S. and Global Immigration Update – Week of August 08, 2025

Department of Labor updates PERM and PWD processing times for August 2025

The Department of Labor (DOL) has updated its processing times for prevailing wage determinations (PWD) and PERM applications for August 2025.

• As of August 1, 2025:
  • DOL has been processing H-1B prevailing wage determinations (PWDs) filed in April 2025 (OEWS), February 2025 (non-OEWS), or earlier.
  • DOL has been processing PWDs for PERMs filed April 2025 (OEWS), February 2025 (non-OEWS), or earlier.
  • DOL has been processing H-1B redeterminations filed in April 2025 or earlier.
  • DOL has been processing PERM redeterminations filed in February 2025 or earlier.
  • DOL has not provided the processing times for H-1B Center Director Reviews for August 2025.
  • DOL has been processing PERM Center Director reviews requested in June 2024 or earlier.
• Below is PERM processing information for both priority dates and average number of days to process applications:

PERM Processing Times

Average Number of Days to Process PERM Applications

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor: flag.dol.gov/processingtimes

Update: DOS policy to require in-person interviews for most nonimmigrant visas effective September 2

• On July 25, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) announced that effective September 2, 2025, the categories of applicants who may be eligible for a waiver of the nonimmigrant visa interview will be updated.
• According to the new policy, all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including applicants under the age of 14 and over the age of 79, generally will require an in-person interview with a consular officer except:
  • Applicants classifiable under the visa symbols A-1, A-2, C-3 (except attendants, servants, or personal employees of accredited officials), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-6, or TECRO E-1;
  • Applicants for diplomatic or official-type visas; and
  • Applicants renewing a full validity B-1, B-2, B1/B2 visa or a Border Crossing Card/Foil (for Mexican nationals) within 12 months of the prior visa’s expiration, and who were at least 18 years old at the time of the prior visa’s issuance.
• To be eligible for an interview waiver based on the third bullet point above (applicants renewing a full validity B-1, B-2, B1/B2 visa or a Border Crossing Card/Foil for Mexican nationals), DOS said, applicants must also meet certain criteria, including that they:
  • Apply in their country of nationality or residence;
  • Have never been refused a visa (unless such refusal was overcome or waived); and
  • Have no apparent or potential ineligibility.
• Consular officers may still require in-person interviews on a case-by-case basis for any reason, DOS noted. Applicants should check embassy and consulate websites for more detailed information.

DOS: Global visa wait times released – Significant reduction in India wait times

• The Department of State updated global visa wait times on July 29, 2025. The site notes that average wait times do not guarantee the availability of an appointment.
• Indian cities saw average wait times for B-1/B-2 visas reduced by up to 50%.
• More details on the different visa categories referenced in the table can be found here.
• Wait times are calculated in months in 30-day increments and half months in 15-day increments.
• Average wait times are provided for B1/B2 visas only in cases where the next available appointment is more than three months away.

Republican bill would terminate H-1B cap exemption status from colleges and universities

• Reps. Tom Tiffany (WI-07) and Andrew Clyde (GA-09) introduced the Colleges for the American People Act, or CAP Act, which would end the long-standing H-1B visa cap exemption for U.S. colleges and universities.
• If enacted, all prospective foreign hires, including administrators and professors, would be required to compete under the standard 65,000 visa cap.
• The CAP Act would eliminate the H-1B cap exemption for colleges and universities, requiring them to compete under the same 65,000-visa limit that applies to private-sector employers.
• The legislation would not retroactively affect current visa holders. Universities could continue to extend existing H-1B visas under the current rules until the six-year limit, after which new hires would fall under the cap.

SOURCE: Newsweek, July 28, 2025: www.newsweek.com/h-1b-visa-higher-education-republican-bill-2105149

DOS: New visa bond pilot program announced for B-1/B-2 visa overstays

• On August 5, the Department of State (DOS) announced the commencement of a 12-month long visa bond pilot program.
• Aliens applying for visas as temporary visitors for business or pleasure (B-1/B-2) and who are nationals of countries identified by the Department as having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient, or offering Citizenship by Investment, if the alien obtained citizenship with no residency requirement, may be subject to the pilot program.
• Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined by the consular officers.
• Reports have indicated that the nationalities with the most visa overstays in the United States include Mexico, India, China, Venezuela, and the Philippines (this is by the number of overstayers – the list may differ If assessed by percentage of a country’s visitors to the US),
• The pilot program is effective August 20, 2025 until August 5, 2026.

SOURCE: Federal Register, August 5, 2025: www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/05/2025-14826/visas-visa-bond-pilot-program

Global Immigration Updates

Portugal

• Effective August 1, 2025, in-person appointments for residence permit renewals will no longer be handled by the Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN). From this date onward, responsibility for these appointments will be transferred as follows:
• EMAIMA (Estrutura de Missão da Agência para a Integração e Asilo) will handle renewal requests for residence permits that expired on or before 30 June 2025, even if an appointment had already been scheduled with IRN.
  Assignees will receive an email to proceed with the payment. They will need to share this email with us so we can review and advise on the next steps. Please note that the payment request will have a deadline, so it is crucial that employees regularly check their email, even during holidays.
  • On the Appointment date:
    • All documentation must be brought to the appointment and will be scan by AIMA´s officer
    • No submission receipt is issued on the appointment date.
    • Within 24 hours after the appointment, AIMA will send an email with a NIE number, allowing applicants to track their process online.
    • Processing time: up to 60 days, although AIMA expects issuance within 30 days.
• AIMA will handle renewal requests for residence permits that expire after 30 June 2025, including cases where appointments had already been scheduled.
  These individuals must be registered on the AIMA platform (as per previous instructions) and should share their login details with us so we can coordinate next steps accordingly. Renewals will only be processed during the month the permit expires. Please note that AIMA has now opened the August renewal window.
• Since August 1, 2025, AIMA has begun sending emails to applicants instructing them to initiate the registration process and proceed with the payment. Once this step is completed, AIMA is currently scheduling renewal appointments on very short notice, often within the same week.
• Given that many employees may currently be on holiday, it is crucial that everyone monitors their email regularly to ensure that this process is not delayed.
• Please note the following:
  1. All employees must check their email daily for any notification from AIMA.
  2. Once an email is received, the registration and payment must be completed immediately.
  3. Employees must inform our team immediately of the date and time of their appointment so that we can provide full support during the visit to the AIMA office
  4. All required documents must be presented at the appointment scheduled by AIMA.

India

India expands consular access with eight (8) news centers across the U.S.

• India has opened eight new Indian Consular Application Centers across the United States, significantly expanding access to consular services for the Indian diaspora.
• The new centers are located in Boston, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Addison, Orlando, Raleigh, and San Jose. An additional center is also set to open soon in Los Angeles.
• As of August 1, all Indian Consular Application Centers will also operate on Saturdays to improve service availability. The government has streamlined several miscellaneous consular services, which can now be accessed through these centers, though certain key services will continue to be handled directly by the embassy.

European Union

European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and Entry/Exit System (EES) will be launched later this year.

Latest status of Entry/Exit System (EES):

• Launch date. The official EU website on the EES states that the system will commence a progressive introduction from October 12, 2025, with full implementation by April 10, 2026.
• Progressive rollout. From October 12, 2025, only a small percentage of border crossings will need to be registered via EES. This will increase over time before eventually reaching 100% by April 10, 2026. Additionally, requirements to obtain biometric data at border crossings will be progressively introduced over this same period.

Latest status of European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS):

• Launch date. On March 5, 2025, the European Council announced that the ETIAS is likely to be launched in the ‘last quarter of 2026’. This timeline is not yet official as the European Parliament must now review and approve this approach. Previously, the system was scheduled for a 2025 commencement. In any event, EU authorities have stated that ETIAS will commence ‘a few months’ after the EES begins. This means that any delays in implementing the EES are likely to affect the ETIAS schedule.
• Transitional period/grace period. EU authorities have stated that ETIAS will be subject to a ‘transitional period’ and a subsequent ‘grace period’ as follows:
  • During the transitional period – the first six months after ETIAS commences – any traveler will be able to enter without an ETIAS travel authorization, subject to satisfying all other entry requirements.
  • During the grace period – the six months after the ‘transitional period – all first-time arrivals to Europe since the end of the ‘transitional period’ will be allowed to enter without an ETIAS travel authorization, subject to satisfying all other entry requirements. All other travelers will need to have an ETIAS travel authorization to enter.

The content of this article is intended only to provide a general guide to the subject matter. It should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact FGI at info@employmentimmigration.com or (+1) 248.643.4900 for guidance if you have specific questions.