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Recent reports indicate that USCIS officers have been conducting unannounced site visits across Minnesota and the Dakotas, targeting foreign nationals with pending STEM OPT extensions and H-1B change of status petitions. What’s Happening In multiple cases, officers have appeared at workplaces and residential addresses, often without prior notice. Some visits involved requests to meet in public areas, such as parking lots or nearby locations. While these encounters have not been tied to removal proceedings, they appear to be verification checks connected to ongoing applications. The pattern and frequency suggest a coordinated enforcement effort focusing on compliance and program integrity. What Students and Employers Should...

Following a recent service disruption, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that the E-Verify system is now fully operational. This announcement has immediate implications for employers, HR professionals, and federal contractors who rely on E-Verify to comply with employment eligibility verification requirements. At VKM Law Group, we advise employers to act promptly to avoid penalties and maintain compliance with federal hiring laws. What Happened? Between late September and early October 2025, the E-Verify system experienced an unexpected outage, preventing users from creating new cases or updating existing ones. Now that operations have resumed, USCIS has issued specific guidance to help employers...

In a major legal development that could reshape the landscape of employment-based immigration, a federal lawsuit has been filed challenging President Trump’s recent Presidential Proclamation requiring a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions. This litigation marks the first major test of executive authority in immigration since the 2025 Proclamation took effect—and employers across the U.S. are paying close attention. As experienced immigration attorneys in New Jersey, VKM Law Group is monitoring this closely. Here’s what employers and foreign professionals need to know. Background: The September 2025 Proclamation On September 19, 2025, President Trump issued a Proclamation titled: “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers.” Effective...