Welcome to the Garfinkel Immigration news roundup, where every month we will summarize and provide links to the latest stories impacting U.S. immigration.
Below is the March 2026 edition of the Garfinkel Immigration news roundup:
2025 tax filings and naturalization: Why a new Form 1040 checkbox matters
A subtle change. Potentially a significant impact.
The IRS added a new checkbox this year to the Form 1040, and it’s more than administrative: It introduces a data point for lawful permanent residents that may later be reviewed in the context of a naturalization application.
Learn more about the updated form and its potential effects on naturalization applications in the latest blog from Garfinkel Immigration Senior Counsel Catherine Magennis.
Choosing the right visa pathway for international teachers: Key J-1 and H-1B considerations for school districts
School districts across the United States continue to rely on international teachers to address staffing shortages and bring global perspectives into the classroom.
As this reliance grows, so does the importance of selecting the right immigration pathway, not only to meet immediate hiring needs, but to support long-term workforce stability.
Two of the most common options, the J-1 exchange visitor teacher program and the H-1B specialty occupation visa, serve distinct purposes. Understanding how these programs align with institutional goals and long-term employment options are increasingly important in today’s evolving immigration landscape.
Find out more in the latest blog by Partner William R. Hummel, head of Garfinkel Immigration’s Education Specialty Practice Group.
Testing the limits of USCIS discretion: Extraordinary ability preparation after Mukherji
The EB-1A extraordinary ability category has long been one of the most selective pathways in employment-based immigration, reserved for individuals at the very top of their fields.
But in practice, how that standard is applied is evolving. Recent decisions, including Mukherji v. Miller and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, highlight a broader shift: increased scrutiny around how agency discretion is exercised and reviewed.
While the legal standard for EB-1A has not changed, these developments raise important questions about the boundaries of USCIS authority and, by extension, how petitions should be prepared in an increasingly scrutinized environment.
For a deeper analysis, read the latest white paper from Garfinkel Immigration Partner Colleen F. Molner.
Bipartisan bill would waive $100,000 visa fees for medical professionals
A notable development at the intersection of immigration policy and healthcare workforce strategy: A bipartisan bill has been introduced to exempt foreign-trained medical professionals from the $100,000 H-1B visa fee implemented last year.
The proposal already has support from major organizations like the American Hospital Association and American Medical Association. While still in its early stages, the bill reflects continued policy attention on healthcare staffing challenges and the role of global talent in addressing them.
The attorneys in the Garfinkel Immigration Healthcare Specialty Practice Group are monitoring developments and will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves.
Visa freeze sidelines immigrant doctors
A pause on immigration applications affecting nationals from dozens of countries could further strain a U.S. healthcare system already facing physician shortages.
The freeze, which impacts work authorization renewals, green card processing, naturalization applications and more, is creating ripple effects for both physicians and the patients who rely on them, as detailed in a recent story by Axios.
In one case reported by Axios, a physician’s work suspension left more than 900 patients without sufficient care.
Physicians who may be impacted by the freeze should contact the attorneys in our Healthcare Specialty Practice Group to evaluate their options.
State Department expands social media vetting for visa seekers
The Department of State announced this month that effective March 30, all H-4 dependents of H-3, K-1, K-2, K-3, Q, R-1, R-2, S, T, and U will be subject to an “online presence review” as part of the application process.
This expands a process implemented last year that previously applied to student and exchange visitor visa categories (F, M, J visas), as well as H‑1B visa applicants and their H‑4 dependents.
As part of the new requirement, applicants, and their dependents, will be required to set all of their social media profiles to “public” or “open.”
This enhanced social media screening, as well as other extreme vetting policies implemented by the Trump administration, could lead to longer processing and visa wait times, as well as increased delays for USCIS and consular appointments.