The Biden administration is leveraging its final weeks in office to implement significant changes to immigration policy quietly and efficiently before Donald Trump’s return to office and the anticipated shift toward a stricter immigration agenda on Jan. 20, 2025.
Here are six recent changes.
1: DHS and DOL announce additional H-2B visas
The Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Labor (DOL) have announced a temporary final rule granting an additional 64,716 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for fiscal year 2025. These visas aim to assist U.S. employers in sectors like hospitality, landscaping, and seafood processing, where finding qualified domestic workers has proven challenging.
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Of the supplemental visas, 44,700 are allocated for returning workers who held H-2B status in the past three fiscal years, and 20,000 are reserved for nationals of Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras. The visas are divided among several allocations based on employment start dates.
Employers must prove they face irreparable harm without these workers and ensure that they have exhausted the domestic labor market. Measures to protect H-2B workers from exploitation are included, with stricter scrutiny for employers previously found in violation of labor laws.
For further details, visit uscis.gov.
2: Lebanese nationals can now apply for Temporary Protected Status
The Department of Homeland Security has designated Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, allowing eligible Lebanese nationals residing in the U.S. since Oct. 16, 2024, to apply for TPS, employment authorization documents (EADs), and travel permits. Applications are open through May 27, 2026. F-1 students from Lebanon may also qualify for Special Student Relief. For more details, visit uscis.gov.
3: Belize added to H-2 visa programs
The DHS, in consultation with the Department of State, has updated the list of countries eligible for H-2A and H-2B visa programs, adding Belize for the first time. The revised list retains all previously eligible countries, supporting U.S. employers in hiring foreign workers for temporary agricultural and nonagricultural roles. The list remains valid until Nov. 7, 2025, subject to potential amendments based on compliance and U.S. interests.
4: USCIS clarifies naturalization requirements for lawful permanent residents
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its Policy Manual to clarify that naturalization applicants must demonstrate lawful admission for permanent residence only at their initial admission or adjustment to Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status. This guidance aligns with the 4th Circuit’s 2024 decision in Azumah v. USCIS and applies to all pending or new applications, effective immediately.
5: USCIS updates medical exam validity for Afghan nationals
USCIS has updated its Policy Manual to make immigration medical examination documentation valid indefinitely for Afghan nationals who arrived during Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) and meet specific criteria. This change means eligible individuals will not have to repeat their medical exams when applying for a green card. The guidance applies to Form I-485 applications pending or filed on or after Nov. 13, 2024, and aligns with a recent Centers for Disease Control (CDC) decision.
6: USCIS updates custody guidance for children acquiring U.S. citizenship
USCIS has also revised its Policy Manual to clarify legal and physical custody requirements for acquiring or deriving U.S. citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The update expands guidance about legal custody determinations, physical residency requirements, and pre-2000 derivation claims under former INA Section 321. It also reinforces the Oath of Allegiance requirement. These changes are effective immediately and aim to ensure consistency in adjudications and align with Executive Order 14012, promoting equitable access to citizenship.
Felicia J. Persaud is the publisher of NewsAmericasNow.com, a daily news outlet focused on positive news about Black immigrant communities from the Caribbean and Latin America.