Recent developments in U.S. employment visa, permanent residence, and citizenship policies have brought significant changes across various areas, leading to a substantial increase in inquiries and consultation requests.
As a result, obtaining accurate information and preparing in advance have become more important than ever.
LAWAMERICA remains committed to providing our clients with accurate and practical information as the U.S. immigration landscape continues to evolve.
Thank you for your continued trust in LAWAMERICA.
Sincerely,
LAWAMERICA
U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship
On June 30, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed in Trump v. Barbara the longstanding principle that the Fourteenth Amendment grants U.S. citizenship to children born in the United States. As a result, the 2025 executive order seeking to restrict birthright citizenship based on the immigration status of a child’s parents was not upheld.
The decision reaffirms the longstanding principle of birthright citizenship, and no changes are expected in how children born in the United States acquire U.S. citizenship. The ruling is particularly significant for foreign nationals and their families who are working or residing in the United States.
Jieun Park, U.S. Attorney at LAWAMERICA, has provided a detailed analysis of the Court’s reasoning and the key legal issues involved in the case at the link below.
Trump vs. the Supreme Court: Who Won the Battle Over U.S. Birthright Citizenship?
Legal Battle Over $100,000 Additional H-1B Fee Continues
Following the June 8 ruling by a federal court in Massachusetts that the additional $100,000 fee imposed on certain new H-1B petitions constituted an unlawful tax, the court partially stayed its ruling on June 12 while the case proceeds on appeal.
The court found that the fee effectively constituted a tax imposed without congressional authorization and that it had not been implemented through the proper procedures required under the Administrative Procedure Act. However, with the federal government pursuing an appeal, the issue remains unresolved.
Accordingly, employers sponsoring H-1B workers may need to reassess their costs and filing strategies depending on the outcome of the litigation. Companies preparing FY2027 H-1B petitions should continue to closely monitor developments.
Increased Risks for Green Card Holders Traveling Abroad
On June 23, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Blanche v. Lau expanding the government’s authority regarding the reentry of lawful permanent residents with criminal charges or investigative histories.
Under the decision, immigration authorities may, in certain circumstances, treat a returning permanent resident as an applicant for admission based on evidence obtained after the individual’s reentry or a subsequent criminal conviction, even if the criminal matter had not been finally resolved at the time of entry.
Permanent residents with prior arrests, pending criminal cases, or other criminal-related issues should therefore obtain legal advice before traveling internationally. Depending on the circumstances, these issues could have significant consequences for their permanent resident status and ability to reenter the United States.
Jieun Park, U.S. Attorney at LAWAMERICA, has provided a detailed analysis of the decision at the link below.
How Far Does the Right of a U.S. Permanent Resident to Reenter the United States Extend?
Expedited B-1/B-2 Visa Interview Service Introduced
The U.S. Department of State announced that it will temporarily offer an expedited interview appointment program for B-1/B-2 visitor visas from July 1 through December 31, 2026.
By paying an additional $750 on top of the regular visa application fee, applicants may schedule an interview within 10 business days at certain designated U.S. consular posts. However, the program only expedites the interview appointment and does not accelerate the substantive review of the visa application or guarantee visa issuance. It also does not affect subsequent procedures such as administrative processing.
Whether the program will be expanded is expected to depend on demand and the results of its implementation.
Blanket L Petition Approved for U.S. Intracompany Transferee Visas
LAWAMERICA recently obtained approval of a Blanket L petition for a company expanding into the United States, helping the client dispatch its employees to the United States more efficiently.
Under the Blanket L program, a qualifying company may obtain advance blanket approval from USCIS. Eligible employees may then apply for L-1 visas through interviews at a U.S. embassy or consulate without first obtaining separate USCIS approval of an individual L-1 petition for each employee.
A related approval case handled by Jungyong Park, U.S. Attorney at LAWAMERICA, is available at the link below.
[Case Study] Blanket L Visa Approval for a Manager-Level Employee of a Korean Company
EB-1C Petition Approved for Multinational Executive
LAWAMERICA recently obtained approval of an EB-1C employment-based immigrant petition for a multinational executive, assisting the client in pursuing U.S. permanent residence.
EB-1C is an employment-based immigrant category that allows qualifying multinational managers and executives to pursue U.S. permanent residence based on the relationship between a foreign company and its U.S. entity. Establishing the qualifying corporate relationship and the managerial or executive nature of the applicant’s position is particularly important.
As scrutiny of these petitions has increased, applicants may need to provide detailed evidence of their managerial or executive responsibilities and the company’s organizational structure. LAWAMERICA comprehensively analyzed the applicant’s duties and corporate organizational structure and successfully obtained approval of the petition.
A related approval case handled by Jungyong Park, U.S. Attorney at LAWAMERICA, is available at the link below.
[Case Study] EB-1C Immigrant Petition Approved for Multinational Executive
Recent developments in U.S. employment visa, permanent residence, and citizenship policies have brought significant changes across various areas, leading to a substantial increase in inquiries and consultation requests.
As a result, obtaining accurate information and preparing in advance have become more important than ever.
LAWAMERICA remains committed to providing our clients with accurate and practical information as the U.S. immigration landscape continues to evolve.
Thank you for your continued trust in LAWAMERICA.
Sincerely,
LAWAMERICA
U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship
On June 30, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed in Trump v. Barbara the longstanding principle that the Fourteenth Amendment grants U.S. citizenship to children born in the United States. As a result, the 2025 executive order seeking to restrict birthright citizenship based on the immigration status of a child’s parents was not upheld.
The decision reaffirms the longstanding principle of birthright citizenship, and no changes are expected in how children born in the United States acquire U.S. citizenship. The ruling is particularly significant for foreign nationals and their families who are working or residing in the United States.
Jieun Park, U.S. Attorney at LAWAMERICA, has provided a detailed analysis of the Court’s reasoning and the key legal issues involved in the case at the link below.
Trump vs. the Supreme Court: Who Won the Battle Over U.S. Birthright Citizenship?
Legal Battle Over $100,000 Additional H-1B Fee Continues
Following the June 8 ruling by a federal court in Massachusetts that the additional $100,000 fee imposed on certain new H-1B petitions constituted an unlawful tax, the court partially stayed its ruling on June 12 while the case proceeds on appeal.
The court found that the fee effectively constituted a tax imposed without congressional authorization and that it had not been implemented through the proper procedures required under the Administrative Procedure Act. However, with the federal government pursuing an appeal, the issue remains unresolved.
Accordingly, employers sponsoring H-1B workers may need to reassess their costs and filing strategies depending on the outcome of the litigation. Companies preparing FY2027 H-1B petitions should continue to closely monitor developments.
Increased Risks for Green Card Holders Traveling Abroad
On June 23, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Blanche v. Lau expanding the government’s authority regarding the reentry of lawful permanent residents with criminal charges or investigative histories.
Under the decision, immigration authorities may, in certain circumstances, treat a returning permanent resident as an applicant for admission based on evidence obtained after the individual’s reentry or a subsequent criminal conviction, even if the criminal matter had not been finally resolved at the time of entry.
Permanent residents with prior arrests, pending criminal cases, or other criminal-related issues should therefore obtain legal advice before traveling internationally. Depending on the circumstances, these issues could have significant consequences for their permanent resident status and ability to reenter the United States.
Jieun Park, U.S. Attorney at LAWAMERICA, has provided a detailed analysis of the decision at the link below.
How Far Does the Right of a U.S. Permanent Resident to Reenter the United States Extend?
Expedited B-1/B-2 Visa Interview Service Introduced
The U.S. Department of State announced that it will temporarily offer an expedited interview appointment program for B-1/B-2 visitor visas from July 1 through December 31, 2026.
By paying an additional $750 on top of the regular visa application fee, applicants may schedule an interview within 10 business days at certain designated U.S. consular posts. However, the program only expedites the interview appointment and does not accelerate the substantive review of the visa application or guarantee visa issuance. It also does not affect subsequent procedures such as administrative processing.
Whether the program will be expanded is expected to depend on demand and the results of its implementation.
Blanket L Petition Approved for U.S. Intracompany Transferee Visas
LAWAMERICA recently obtained approval of a Blanket L petition for a company expanding into the United States, helping the client dispatch its employees to the United States more efficiently.
Under the Blanket L program, a qualifying company may obtain advance blanket approval from USCIS. Eligible employees may then apply for L-1 visas through interviews at a U.S. embassy or consulate without first obtaining separate USCIS approval of an individual L-1 petition for each employee.
A related approval case handled by Jungyong Park, U.S. Attorney at LAWAMERICA, is available at the link below.
[Case Study] Blanket L Visa Approval for a Manager-Level Employee of a Korean Company
EB-1C Petition Approved for Multinational Executive
LAWAMERICA recently obtained approval of an EB-1C employment-based immigrant petition for a multinational executive, assisting the client in pursuing U.S. permanent residence.
EB-1C is an employment-based immigrant category that allows qualifying multinational managers and executives to pursue U.S. permanent residence based on the relationship between a foreign company and its U.S. entity. Establishing the qualifying corporate relationship and the managerial or executive nature of the applicant’s position is particularly important.
As scrutiny of these petitions has increased, applicants may need to provide detailed evidence of their managerial or executive responsibilities and the company’s organizational structure. LAWAMERICA comprehensively analyzed the applicant’s duties and corporate organizational structure and successfully obtained approval of the petition.
A related approval case handled by Jungyong Park, U.S. Attorney at LAWAMERICA, is available at the link below.
[Case Study] EB-1C Immigrant Petition Approved for Multinational Executive