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The Department of Homeland Security announced that Romania’s Visa Waiver Program (VWP) designation has been rescinded.
Key Points:
Additional Information: A current list of VWP designated countries can be found here.
This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.
Copyright © 2025 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
Diversity Visa lottery results for DV-2026 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2026) applicants are now available on the State Department’s Entrant Status Check page.
Additional Information: The Diversity Visa program provides 55,000 immigrant visas (green cards) per year to individuals from countries with low levels of immigration to the United States. Individuals register during an annual registration period and are selected through a random lottery. The DV-2026 registration period was open Oct. 2, 2024, through Nov. 7, 2024. Entries are no longer being accepted at this time.
The State Department’s Entrant Status Check webpage is the only official source where results are posted. Selectees are encouraged to apply for visas as early as possible once their program rank numbers become eligible.
The designation of South Sudan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which was set to expire on May 3, 2025, has been automatically extended to Nov. 3, 2025.
Additional Information: South Sudan was initially designated for TPS on Oct. 13, 2011, on the dual bases of ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevented nationals of South Sudan from safely returning. Following the initial designation, DHS extended and newly designated South Sudan for TPS in 2013, 2014 and 2016.
In 2017, 2019 and 2020, DHS extended the TPS designation for South Sudan, based on ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions, and extended and newly designated TPS for South Sudan on the same bases in 2022. Most recently, in September 2023, DHS extended and newly designated South Sudan for TPS for 18 months based on ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions, from Nov. 4, 2023, to May 3, 2025.
The State Department has updated global visa wait times. The update now includes additional information on the average time nonimmigrant visa applicants waited for an interview in the previous month. The Department also continues to provide the estimated wait time until the next available interview appointment for visitor visas.
Although visa wait time information is scheduled to be updated monthly, the average wait times reported do not guarantee a visa applicant will get an appointment within a specific time. U.S. embassies and consulates regularly release additional appointment slots. Applicants who want an earlier appointment slot after initially scheduling their interview should check back frequently and move their appointment to another available slot if available.
Excerpted below are the global visa wait times as of April 25, 2025, of some the city/posts that historically have the most visa issuances:
B-1/B-2 visas
Average wait times
Next available appointment
F, M, J visas
Petition-based
H, L, O, P, Q visas
Additional Information: More details on the different visa categories referenced in the table can be found here.
Applicants are reminded that post-specific instructions are available on the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate where the applicant schedules their interview. Links to U.S. embassies and consulates can be found here. Applicants should be aware there may be limitations on how many times they can reschedule an appointment. Calendar access for a specific post may not be accessible until the application has been submitted and the required fee has been paid. (The fee is typically non-transferable across countries.)
Embassies and consulates may waive the in-person interview requirement for eligible applicants. Wait times for these appointments are not reflected in the visa wait time tables. Please check the individual U.S. embassy or consulate website to find out if a waiver of the in-person interview is available.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has advised that only the updated Jan. 20, 2025, editions of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), employment authorization and other applications forms will be accepted starting May 29.
Additional Information: The complete list of updated forms and effective dates can be found here.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has updated certain forms and only the Jan. 20, 2025, editions will be accepted starting May 28, including temporary to permanent resident status adjustment and EB-5 investor forms.
Key Forms:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it has reached the additional H-2B visa cap made for returning workers for the early second half of fiscal year (FY) 2025 with start dates from April 1 to May 14, 2025.
The State Department posted reminders for summer travel, including the REAL ID requirement at U.S. airports for domestic flights starting May 7, 2025.
Additional Information: A complete list of acceptable identification that are REAL ID compliant can be found here. TSA strongly encourages travelers to check this list again before traveling as it is subject to change without notice.
Copyright© 2025 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
The Labor Department posted updated processing times for permanent labor certification (PERM) applications and prevailing wage determination (PWD) requests.
PERM Processing Times: As of April 1, the department was adjudicating PERM applications filed in December 2023 and earlier and reviewing appeals for reconsideration filed in February 2025 and earlier.
Average Number of Days to Process PERM Applications
PWD Processing Times: As of April 1, the National Prevailing Wage Center is completing the processing of PWD requests filed in:
Redeterminations were being considered on appeals filed in December 2024 and earlier for both H-1B visa cases and PERM cases.
Center Director Reviews were being conducted for both H-1B visa cases and PERM cases filed in August 2024 and earlier.
A U.S. District Court judge’s ruling on April 14 temporarily blocked the Department of Homeland Security from moving forward with the termination of categorical parole programs for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela (CHNV) scheduled to take effect April 24.
Additional Information: On March 31, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California paused the termination of the 2023 Temporary Protected Status designation for Venezuela, pending further litigation. BAL continues to monitor this litigation and related cases.