Sweeping Immigration Changes Take Effect Across United States
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security rolled out significant immigration policy changes between October 30 and November 2025, marking one of the most comprehensive overhauls to the legal immigration system in recent years. The changes affect employment authorization documents, H-1B visas, public charge determinations, and visa interview requirements, impacting millions of foreign workers and immigrants nationwide.
These policy shifts represent a fundamental change in how USCIS processes work permits and visa applications. Moreover, the changes come as USCIS reported over 900,000 EAD applications pending for more than six months as of November 3, 2025.
Key Immigration Policy Changes in November 2025
The Department of Homeland Security announced five major policy updates that reshape the immigration landscape:
- EAD Auto-Extensions Terminated: Effective October 30, 2025, USCIS ended the 540-day automatic extension for Employment Authorization Documents, forcing applicants to stop working once their EAD expires
- $100,000 H-1B Fee Implemented: Starting September 21, 2025, new H-1B petitions require a $100,000 payment for workers entering from outside the United States
- Visa Interview Location Restrictions: Beginning November 1, 2025, all immigrant visa applicants must attend interviews in their country of nationality or residence, ending third-country processing
- Expanded Public Charge Criteria: The Department of State broadened public charge exclusions to include obesity, age, medical conditions, and health of dependent family members
- New Immigration Parole Fee: A $1,000 parole fee took effect October 16, 2025, for humanitarian parole, parole in place, and re-parole applications
These changes affect multiple visa categories including H-1B workers, H-4 spouses, adjustment of status applicants, TPS holders, and immigrant visa applicants. Furthermore, the timing creates significant challenges for the over 900,000 pending EAD applications currently in the USCIS backlog.
Who Is Affected by These Immigration Changes
The November 2025 immigration policy updates impact several distinct groups of foreign nationals and their employers.
For H-1B Workers and Their Employers
New H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025, require a $100,000 payment through Pay.gov before submission, applicable only to workers outside the United States. However, extensions, amendments, and change of status petitions for workers already in the U.S. are exempt from this fee. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit on October 16, 2025, challenging the legality of this fee.
For EAD Holders (H-4 Spouses, AOS Applicants)
Anyone filing an EAD renewal on or after October 30, 2025, will not receive automatic extension of their work authorization. This means you must stop working immediately when your EAD expires if USCIS hasn't approved your renewal. Additionally, with current processing backlogs exceeding six months, applicants face significant gaps in employment authorization.
For Immigrant Visa Applicants
Starting November 1, 2025, you must attend visa interviews in your country of nationality or residence, eliminating the option for third-country visa processing. The Department of State also expanded public charge considerations to include medical conditions, obesity, age, and dependent family members' health status.
How to Protect Your Work Authorization - Step by Step
Follow these critical steps to avoid gaps in your employment authorization:
- File EAD Renewals Early: Submit renewal applications 180 days (6 months) before your current EAD expires to minimize risk of work authorization gaps
- Check Your Current Auto-Extension Status: If you filed before October 30, 2025, your automatic extension remains valid; renewals filed after this date receive no automatic extension
- Verify H-1B Fee Exemptions: Confirm whether your petition qualifies for the $100,000 fee exemption based on filing date and whether you're in the U.S. or abroad
- Prepare for Visa Interviews: Schedule interviews in your home country if traveling abroad for consular processing, as third-country processing is no longer available
- Monitor Application Status: Track your case regularly through USCIS online tools, especially given current processing delays exceeding six months for many categories
Important Dates and Immigration Timeline
Mark these critical dates on your calendar to stay compliant:
- September 21, 2025: $100,000 H-1B fee requirement takes effect at 12:01 AM EDT for new petitions involving workers outside the U.S.
- October 16, 2025: New $1,000 immigration parole fee becomes effective for humanitarian parole and parole in place applications
- October 30, 2025: Automatic EAD extensions end for all renewal applications filed on or after this date
- November 1, 2025: Visa interview location restrictions take effect, requiring interviews in country of nationality or residence
- Through September 20, 2026: The H-1B $100,000 fee proclamation remains in effect for a 12-month period unless challenged successfully in court
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happens If My EAD Expires While My Renewal Is Pending?
If you filed your renewal on or after October 30, 2025, you must stop working immediately when your EAD expires. There is no automatic extension period. However, if you filed before October 30, 2025, your automatic extension remains valid. USCIS recommends filing renewals 180 days before expiration to minimize employment gaps.
Do All H-1B Petitions Require the $100,000 Fee?
No, the $100,000 fee only applies to new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025, for workers currently outside the United States. Extensions, amendments, and change of status petitions for workers already in the U.S. are exempt. Additionally, petitions filed before the September 21 deadline are not subject to this fee.
Can I Still Process My Immigrant Visa in a Third Country?
No, effective November 1, 2025, all immigrant visa applicants must attend interviews in their country of nationality or residence. The Department of State ended third-country visa processing entirely. Furthermore, expanded public charge criteria now consider medical conditions, obesity, age, and dependent family members' health.
What You Need to Know About Immigration Changes
These November 2025 immigration policy changes represent the most significant overhaul to legal immigration processing in recent history. The elimination of automatic EAD extensions creates immediate risks for over 900,000 pending applicants, while the $100,000 H-1B fee fundamentally changes employer hiring strategies. Additionally, tightened visa interview requirements and expanded public charge criteria add new barriers to legal immigration.
If you're affected by these changes, take immediate action to file renewals early, verify fee exemptions, and ensure your passport photo meets requirements for visa applications. For those applying for immigrant visas or work permits, consider using services like VisaPics to ensure your visa photo specifications meet USCIS and Department of State standards, avoiding costly delays in an already challenging processing environment.