Your weekly round-up of the most important immigration news and policy updates.
USCIS Narrows CSPA Age Protections, Risking More Family Separations
Effective August 15, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will now calculate a child’s age under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) using only the stricter “Final Action Dates” chart from the Visa Bulletin. This replaces the more flexible “Dates for Filing” standard. The change will likely result in fewer children keeping “child” status and more families facing separation as young immigrants age out at 21. Pending cases filed before August 15 will continue under the old rules.
Emandi Law Recognized for Growth and Client Impact
We are proud to share that Emandi Law continues to be recognized among leading U.S. immigration law firms for its growth and dedication to clients. Our focus remains on delivering trusted legal guidance and innovative strategies that make a measurable impact on families, workers, and investors navigating the U.S. immigration system.
September 2025 Visa Bulletin Brings Modest Family-Based Advances
The U.S. Department of State’s September 2025 Visa Bulletin brings limited changes. Most green card wait times remain steady, with a two-month advance in the F-2A category for all countries and a five-month advance in the Philippines’ F-3 category. Employment-based categories remain unchanged, with EB-4 still unavailable until the new fiscal year.
Concerns Over Revised U.S. Human Rights Report
The latest U.S. State Department Human Rights Report has faced criticism for downplaying abuses in allied nations while amplifying criticism of rival countries. References to LGBTQ+ rights and Gaza’s humanitarian crisis were largely removed, raising concerns that U.S. human rights reporting is becoming politicized. Observers warn this shift could affect immigration cases where human rights conditions are a key factor.
New USCIS Policy Bars Transgender Women from Certain Sports Visa Categories
USCIS has issued a policy update excluding transgender women from eligibility for specific sports-related visas, including O-1A, EB-1, EB-2, and national interest waivers. Only athletes assigned female at birth will now qualify in women’s categories, and prior competition by athletes assigned male at birth in women’s events will be treated as a negative factor. This policy takes effect immediately and could impact both professional athletes and organizations seeking sponsorship.
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