Fórum Visa waiver (I-94W) not collected at border.

Some families may have filed a parent’s green card application ; others may still be preparing one. During the process, family members may have questions about public charge, a part of the green card review that considers several personal factors. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) guidance for the new public charge rule took effect on September 18, 2026, for Form I-485, the application used to apply for a green card from inside the U.S. What is public charge in a green card application? Public charge is a review of an applicant’s overall situation that can affect the outcome of a green card application . When the rule applies, USCIS reviews finances, health, family situation, education, skills, and use of certain public benefits. Not every green card applicant undergoes the review; exempt groups include refugees, people granted asylum, certain victims of human trafficking or crime, and people applying under special humanitarian protections. For families sponsoring a parent, Medicaid or another means-tested public benefit the parent receives may factor into the assessment. Means-tested public benefits are government benefits that use income or assets to determine eligibility. USCIS looks at the applicant’s situation as a whole rather than relying on one factor alone; it refers to the full assessment as the totality of the circumstances public charge. What changed under the new public charge rule on September 18, 2026? The new public charge rule September 18 202

Immihelp’s Experiences archive contains personal, firsthand posts shared across a wide range of topics. Within the B1 and B2 visa categories, some posts describe interviews in enough detail to show the B1/B2 visa interview questions applicants received, the documents requested or reviewed, the outcomes applicants reported, and their own reflections on the experience. We reviewed B1 and B2 visa posts to identify recurring patterns in the visa officer questions and interview experiences applicants shared. How we reviewed B1/B2 visa experiences shared by actual applicants We reviewed 300 posts from the B1 and B2 visa categories in Immihelp’s Experiences archive, covering several years through June 2026. The sample included 250 B2 posts and 50 B1 posts. Of the 300 posts, 72 described a completed visa interview in enough detail for analysis: 51 B2 and 21 B1. Indian consulates appeared most often among posts that named an interview location, particularly Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Hyderabad, giving the sample a strong U.S. visa interview experience India representation. We excluded advice-seeking posts with no completed interview, scheduling or application-process questions, unrelated visa categories, promotional or general-information posts, and posts without enough interview detail for analysis. The posts reflect experiences people chose to share and do not represent every B1/B2 visa interview. What questions are asked in a B1/B2 visa interview? The questions varied from one

USCIS stopped collecting the $100,000 H-1B fee after the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts struck down the policy. As of September 2, 2026, employers do not need to pay the $100,000 fee with affected H-1B petitions . The federal government appealed the ruling and asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit to keep the fee in place during the appeal. The First Circuit, a federal appeals court, denied the request on July 24, 2026. The court battle is still ongoing, and a later court decision could change the fee requirement again. Latest H-1B Fee Developments in 2026 The latest H-1B fee update 2026 centers on State of California v. Mullin, a case in which 20 states challenged the federal government’s authority to require the $100,000 payment. June 8, 2026: Massachusetts Federal Court Strikes Down the Fee On June 8, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts struck down the policy used to collect the fee. The court vacated the policy, setting the government action aside after finding that federal agencies had gone beyond their legal authority when they implemented the payment requirement. The H-1B visa fee court ruling stopped USCIS from collecting the $100,000 payment. With the H-1B $100k fee vacated, USCIS lost the legal basis to collect the additional payment while the ruling remains in effect. The federal government then appealed the decision. Temporary Return of the $100,000 Fee After filing the appeal, the federal governme

Moving to the United States comes with new financial responsibilities, including understanding how the U.S. tax system works. New immigrants, international students, temporary visa workers, and Green Card holders may all have federal tax filing obligations, depending on their circumstances. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) administers the U.S. tax system. If you are required to submit a tax return, it is important to do so accurately and on time, as errors or missed deadlines may result in penalties, interest, or delays in future immigration and financial processes. Does everyone have to file a tax return? Not everyone is required to file a federal income tax return. Filing requirements vary based on several factors, including: Filing status Age Gross income Type of income received Immigration and tax residency status For tax year 2026, with returns generally filed in 2027, many taxpayers must file if their gross income exceeds the applicable IRS filing threshold. Filing thresholds change annually, and taxpayers should verify the current IRS limits before submitting a return. Even when a federal tax return is not required, filing may still be beneficial because you could receive: A federal tax refund A refund of excess tax withholding Refundable tax credits, if eligible When is the U.S. tax filing deadline? The U.S. tax year follows the calendar year, running from January 1 through December 31. Federal income tax returns are due by April 15 of the following year. If April 1

Losing a job can bring financial and emotional stress. For foreign nationals working in the United States , job loss may feel even more uncertain when they are away from their home country and dealing with immigration and work authorization requirements at the same time. Unemployment benefits may provide temporary financial support, but eligibility for non-U.S. citizens depends on several factors. Eligibility varies by immigration status, work authorization, the reason employment ended, and the unemployment laws in the state where the individual worked. Lawful permanent residents and certain non-U.S. citizens with valid work authorization may qualify, while temporary work visa holders often face additional restrictions. State unemployment programs follow their own eligibility rules, benefit amounts, and filing requirements. Before filing a claim, non-U.S. citizens should consider how immigration status and work authorization may affect their eligibility for unemployment benefits. What Are Unemployment Benefits? Unemployment benefits provide temporary financial assistance to eligible workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. While the program is authorized under federal law, each state administers its own unemployment system and sets rules for eligibility, benefit amounts, and the duration of payments. Benefits are intended to support unemployed workers financially while they actively search for new employment. General Eligibility Requirements Each state sets

Petitioners may need to provide proof of their legal status in the United States when applying for an immigration benefit. Required documents vary for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents ( Green Card holders). Proof of U.S. Citizenship U.S. citizens may use one of the following documents as evidence of citizenship status. U.S. Birth Certificate A birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority, or another authorized civil registrar may serve as proof of birth in the United States. The document should show the person’s full name, date and place of birth, and the names of the parent or parents, when listed. In general, hospital-issued birth records are not accepted without an official birth certificate from the appropriate government authority. Certificate of Naturalization A Certificate of Naturalization serves as official proof that a person obtained U.S. citizenship through the naturalization process after being admitted as a lawful permanent resident. The certificate may have been issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Certificate of Citizenship or Consular Report of Birth Abroad A person who acquired or derived U.S. citizenship through a parent may have a Certificate of Citizenship or Form FS-240, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate. Both documents serve as proof of U.S. citizenship for a person born outside the United States. Valid

The U.S. B1/B2 visitor visa allows temporary travel to the United States for business, tourism, family visits, or medical treatment. The visitor visa application involves a review of several factors, including travel purpose, financial circumstances, ties outside the United States, Form DS-160 information, and interview answers. Documents remain important, but submitting a large file does not guarantee approval. Applicants should bring the required documents and select supporting records that match their circumstances. Review the US visitor visa documents guide to prepare the required records, supporting evidence, social media information, and tourist visa interview checklist before the appointment. Important: There is no guarantee of visa approval, even if all documents are submitted. A consular officer reviews each application based on U.S. immigration law and the applicant’s circumstances. False information, altered documents, or misrepresentation may result in visa refusal, future visa denials, and permanent visa ineligibility in serious cases. What is a B1/B2 visitor visa? The B1/B2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa for short-term visits to the United States. The B1 visa covers business activities, including meetings, conferences, consultations, and negotiations. The B2 visa covers tourism, family visits, medical treatment, and other personal travel. Many applicants receive a combined B1/B2 visa. The B1/B2 validity period varies by nationality and U.S. reciprocity rules. It ma

A Green Card , officially referred to as a Permanent Resident Card or Form I-551, contains several identifiers used for immigration records and verification. Identifying what each number represents allows you to provide the correct information when needed. Where is my Green Card number? On newer Green Cards, the Green Card number appears on the back near the bottom of the card. It is a 13-character identifier found within the first line and consists of three letters followed by 10 digits. For example, a Green Card number may appear as NBC2502220812. The same identifier may also be called the receipt number back of green card. The green card number location may differ on older card designs. On Green Cards issued before May 2010, the number may appear near the bottom of the front. USCIS Number vs Alien Registration Number The USCIS Number and Alien Registration Number , or A-Number, are not different identifiers. They refer to the same nine-digit number shown on the front of a current Green Card under “USCIS#.” The Green Card number is separate. It contains three letters followed by 10 digits and appears on the back of newer cards. What does my Green Card number mean? USCIS uses the Green Card number to identify and track the case associated with the card. The number is not a random series of letters and digits. Each part provides information about the case. For easier reading, NBC2502220812 may be separated as NBC 25 022 20812. First three letters (service center or system): T

Updated: August 20, 2026 immihelp®.com is committed to protecting the privacy of our website visitors. This notice describes how and why we collect, use, and disclose your personal information when you interact with our website. Cookies “Cookies” are used on our websites. A cookie is a piece of data stored on your computer when you visit our website. Cookies do not contain any personally identifiable information about you. Certain cookies are strictly necessary, such as Google Tag Manager and session information for interaction with our website. Performance tracking and interaction cookies are required for Google Analytics and Google Translate. You have the right to accept or decline cookies through your browser preferences. However, if you decline cookies, many features of the website may not be available to you. Collection of Personal Information We gather certain information automatically, such as IP address, browser type, Internet Service Provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, the webpages viewed, operating system, and date/time stamp, to analyze trends in the aggregate and administer the websites. Our website has many sections, such as the discussion forum, experience sections, and more, where users can post content. Please keep in mind that any information you publicly share on the internet is visible to anyone. Do not post anything on this website that you do not want anyone in the world to see. Anything you post may be indexed by search engines such as Google, Bing, an

OCI application fees in the USA depend on the service requested. The total may include a consular fee, an Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) fee, the VFS Global OCI service charge, and payment or mailing charges. OCI Application Fees USA Service Type Consular Fee ICWF Fee VFS Global Service Charge Total New OCI Card $275.00 $3.00 $19.00 $297.00 OCI in Lieu of PIO Card $100.00 $3.00 $19.00 $122.00 OCI in Lieu of Lost PIO Card $200.00 $3.00 $19.00 $222.00 OCI in Lieu of Damaged PIO Card $200.00 $3.00 $19.00 $222.00 OCI in Lieu of PIO Card Filed Outside the Applicant’s Jurisdiction of Residence $100.00 $3.00 $19.00 $122.00 OCI Reissue for a New Passport $25.00 $3.00 $19.00 $47.00 OCI Reissue for a Lost or Damaged OCI Card $100.00 $3.00 $19.00 $122.00 OCI Miscellaneous Services Change of Particulars Change of Appearance Correction of OCI Online Form Change of Address or Occupation $25.00 $3.00 $19.00 $47.00 Renunciation of OCI Card $25.00 $3.00 $19.00 $47.00 Some jurisdictions may charge a $15.90 VFS service fee instead of the $19.00 fee for reissue or certain miscellaneous services. A separate fee is required for each applicant and cannot be waived. Rejected or dishonored payments may lead to added charges or cancellation of the service. Important PIO travel warning: PIO cards are no longer valid for travel to India as of December, 2023. PIO cardholders must complete the PIO to OCI conversion process or obtain another valid Indian travel document before purchasing flights. App

Most applicants instructed to provide fingerprints and a photograph must attend an appointment at a Visa Application Center (VAC) before visiting the U.S. embassy or consulate. Depending on the country, the facility may also be called an Applicant Service Center or Offsite Facilitation Center. Visa Application Centers are operated by contractors authorized by the U.S. Department of State to support visa application processing. CGI Federal provides support for nonimmigrant and immigrant visas in 25 countries across Europe and Asia through 2032. A CGI Federal visa appointment system may be used in locations served by the contractor. Not every applicant must visit a VAC. Fingerprint and photograph procedures vary by country, visa category, age, and application location. Follow the instructions provided through the official appointment system and the U.S. embassy or consulate processing the application. Scheduling a VAC Appointment for a U.S. Visa Complete the required visa application form before beginning biometric fingerprint scheduling. Nonimmigrant visa applicants should submit Form DS-160 and keep the confirmation page containing the barcode. The VAC appointment US visa process varies by application location. The appointment system will show if a VAC visit is required, where to attend, and when the visit must occur. Use only the appointment provider identified by the embassy or consulate. Walk-in services are not available unless the VAC instructions state otherwise. Do not

H-4 visa stamping requirements depend on the instructions issued by the U.S. embassy or consulate handling the application. Most H-4 applicants must attend an in-person interview. Applicants should use the interview waiver process, commonly called dropbox submission, only after receiving confirmation through the appointment system. The H4 visa stamping checklist below separates the in-person interview and interview waiver procedures. Prepare only the documents required for the procedure assigned to your application. H-4 Visa In-Person Interview Documents The Department of State’s September 2025 interview waiver update does not list H-4 visas among the categories broadly eligible for interview waivers. H-4 applicants should expect an in-person interview unless the U.S. embassy or consulate provides different instructions. Basic Application Documents Review the appointment instructions and prepare the following: Current passport Previous passports containing prior U.S. visas , when relevant or requested Form DS-160 confirmation page with the CEAC barcode Interview appointment confirmation Visa application fee receipt, when required Printed visa photograph , when required by the embassy or consulate or when the online photo upload is unsuccessful H-1B Principal Applicant Documents Prepare documents showing the principal applicant’s approved H-1B petition: Copy of the principal applicant’s Form I-797 approval notice Copy of the approved Form I-129 petition, when available or requ