Policy Updates

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2026-03)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2024-04-01 to 2024-10-15 in the 2026-03 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Nepalese applicants will see the inclusion of DOJ criminal history data in their vetting process. This policy change affects the internal workflow of DHS and the Department of State during visa adjudication.

Nepalese professionals, particularly in the healthcare sector, will be affected by the increased cost of premium processing. This change makes the expedited path to a green card more expensive for a growing applicant pool.

The landmark investigation signals a broader crackdown on EB-2 fraud, which will affect Nepalese nationals through increased processing times. Applicants should be prepared for more rigorous scrutiny of their professional credentials and employer sponsorships.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2026-01)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2024-02-01 to 2024-04-01 in the 2026-01 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Nepalese nationals seeking EB-2 visas will experience the impact of more thorough vetting, which will likely extend the duration of the I-485 adjustment of status process.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2025-12)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-12-01 to 2024-02-01 in the 2025-12 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

The inflation adjustment will increase the financial burden on Nepalese applicants. This is particularly relevant for those in the 'Rest of World' queue who are currently facing wait times due to retrogression.

The partial stay on the 2024 Fee Rule affects the cost-benefit analysis for Nepalese professionals and their sponsors. Accurate fee submission for Form I-140 is required to maintain the timeline for EB-2 visa processing.

The move to electronic payments is a global change affecting Nepalese petitioners. It is designed to reduce the administrative burden of processing physical checks and money orders.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2025-10)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-09-01 to 2023-12-01 in the 2025-10 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Operation Twin Shield will lead to more frequent audits of employment-based petitions from Nepal. Applicants should expect longer processing times as USCIS verifies the legitimacy of their employers and job offers.

Nepal has seen a surge in students in the U.S. who eventually seek EB-2 sponsorship. The $100,000 H-1B fee and higher PERM wage floors will significantly narrow the window of opportunity for these individuals to secure permanent residency.

Nepalese nationals applying under the EB-2 category will face more thorough checks of their educational backgrounds. USCIS agents will be looking for any inconsistencies in academic records or degree equivalency evaluations.

The update ensures that Nepalese professionals can pay their EB-2 filing fees through more modern and reliable channels. This administrative improvement helps in maintaining the integrity of the filing date by avoiding physical payment issues.

Nepalese applicants will be subject to the same strict verification standards for their EB-2 petitions. Falsification of experience or education will result in permanent inadmissibility, regardless of the applicant's current status.

The policy change is a global update and will apply to Nepalese nationals without specific country-based prejudice. Applicants should ensure their petitions do not contain content that could be misinterpreted under the new guidelines.

With the EB-2 category no longer being 'current' for the Rest of World, Nepalese applicants with children near the age of 21 will find this policy essential for preventing family separation.

Visa Bulletin Retrogression: EB-2 Rest of World (2025-08)

The Department of State retrogressed the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-10-15 to 2023-09-01 in the 2025-08 bulletin. Some applicants who were previously eligible may need to wait longer.

The fee increase applies to Nepalese nationals seeking employment-based second preference visas. This change adds to the total cost of immigration at a time when the EB-2 category is not currently current for any country.

Nepalese applicants will experience a more transparent process regarding how USCIS handles and discloses derogatory information that could impact their visa approval.

Nepalese applicants benefit from the removal of the two-year medical validity limit, ensuring that their initial filing remains sufficient even if visa numbers for the 'Rest of World' category regress.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2025-06)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-06-22 to 2023-10-15 in the 2025-06 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2025-04)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-05-15 to 2023-06-22 in the 2025-04 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2025-03)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-04-01 to 2023-05-15 in the 2025-03 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Nepalese applicants for EB-2 status will no longer be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination during their adjustment of status medical exam. This policy change reduces the administrative burden on both the applicant and the civil surgeon.

The update ensures that Nepalese applicants have a clearer understanding of the evidence required for an NIW. This reduces the administrative burden on applicants from a country with growing numbers of U.S.-bound students and professionals.

Nepalese nationals in the EB-2 category must comply with the new filing procedures to ensure their I-140 petitions are accepted. This is particularly important as they compete for limited visa numbers under the current global retrogression.

Nepalese nationals with scheduled USCIS appointments on Jan. 9 will be impacted by the office closures. New appointment dates will be issued, causing a slight shift in the expected completion date of their EB-2 adjustment of status.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2025-01)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-03-15 to 2023-04-01 in the 2025-01 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2024-07)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-01-15 to 2023-03-15 in the 2024-07 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2024-04)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-11-22 to 2023-01-15 in the 2024-04 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2024-03)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-11-15 to 2022-11-22 in the 2024-03 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2024-02)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-11-01 to 2022-11-15 in the 2024-02 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2024-01)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-07-15 to 2022-11-01 in the 2024-01 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2023-11)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-07-08 to 2022-07-15 in the 2023-11 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2023-10)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-07-01 to 2022-07-08 in the 2023-10 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2023-09)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-04-01 to 2022-07-01 in the 2023-09 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2023-08)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-02-15 to 2022-04-01 in the 2023-08 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Retrogression: EB-2 Rest of World (2023-05)

The Department of State retrogressed the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-07-01 to 2022-02-15 in the 2023-05 bulletin. Some applicants who were previously eligible may need to wait longer.

Visa Bulletin Retrogression: EB-2 Rest of World (2023-04)

The Department of State retrogressed the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-11-01 to 2022-07-01 in the 2023-04 bulletin. Some applicants who were previously eligible may need to wait longer.