April 2026 Visa bulletin 2026 4月簽證排期

 Huge!

The April 2026 Visa Bulletin just dropped and USCIS also announced that adjustment of status applicants should use Table B to determine eligibility to file adjustment of status applications in April 2026.

Why is the news huge?

1. Visa number for F-2A applicants born in all countries will be current, meaning spouse and minor children of a permanent resident may file a one-stop adjustment application in April regardless of where they were born

2. Visa number for many employment-based categories will become current for people born outside of a few specific countries in April, meaning many foreign nationals may be able to file an adjustment of status application with USCIS without any wait!

However, the ban on applicants from the 75 countries designated as high risk is still in place. Disclaimer: Information included in this page does not constitute as legal advice and receipt of this page does not establish attorney-client relationship. For specific inquiries, please call my office and schedule an appointment. 

重磅消息！

2026年4月簽證公告剛發布，美國公民及移民服務局（USCIS）同時宣布，調整身分申請人應使用B表來確定其是否符合2026年4月提交調整身分申請的資格。

為什麼這則訊息如此重要？

1. 所有國家/地區出生的F-2A簽證申請人的簽證名額將無需排期，這意味著永久居民的配偶和未成年子女無論出生地為何，都可以在4月份提交一站式調整身份申請。

2. 許多基於工作的簽證類別，除了出生於少數特定國家/地區的申請人以外，在4月份將無需排期，這意味著許多外國公民或許可以無需等待即可向USCIS提交身份調整申請！

但是，來自75個被列為高風險國家的申請人的禁令仍然有效。

以上資料僅供參考之用，並非法律意見。如有個別問題，請致電本所查詢。
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-for-april-2026.html

https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/visa-availability-priority-dates/adjustment-of-status-filing-charts-from-the-visa-bulletin

2016 Diversity Visa Program 2016財政年度多元簽證計畫

Registration for the 2016 Diversity Program runs from October 1 to November 3 this year.  A friend of mine recently asked me to post a short article on this.  

In order to participate in this program, an applicant may not be born from one of the countries where a large number of immigrants to the United States are from, such as Mainland China, India, and Mexico, etc (limited exceptions apply).  Second, an applicant must be 18 years old and has graduated from high school or has two years of qualifying work experience (usually skilled or professional job) .  For more details, please see the State Department's Instruction. 

If you meet the above requirements, you may register on the website of the Diversity Visa program during the registration period.  Due to unforeseen circumstances, it is best to register as early as possible.  Registration form can be found on the Webpage of the State Department.  Please notice that it is free to register, so if someone asks you to pay for registering, please do not be fooled.

You would need to upload a picture when you register.  There are strict specifications on the picture, so an applicant should avoid waiting until the last minute to register.  To know more about the picture requirements, please visit the State Department's Webpage.

Applicants may begin to check the result on May 5 of next year with their registration number.  Please remember that the State Department would not notify the winner through any communications, including emails, telephone calls, or mails.  

Finally, lucky winners must apply for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status within the fiscal year or it will expire after the fiscal year.  In addition, every year the State Department will draw more winners than it can issue visas to so winners are encouraged to put in their applciations as soon as possible.

Disclaimer: Information included in this page does not constitute as legal advice and receipt of this page does not establish attorney-client relationship. For specific inquiries, please call my office and schedule an appointment. 

由於2016財政年度多元簽證計畫(或綠卡抽籤)於今年十月一日到十一月三日接受登記，所以最近有朋友問可否寫一篇關於此計畫的短文。

要透過此計畫獲得移民資格，首先申請人不能在有大量移民到美國的國家出生，如中國大陸丶印度、墨西哥等(在某些情況下例外)。第二，申請人必須年滿18歲，而且高中畢業或有兩年乎合資格的工作經驗(通常是技術或專業職位)。詳情可到國務院的網頁查詢：

如果你乎合上述資格，可於登記開放期間到國務院多元簽證計畫的網頁登記。鑒於不同難以預見的可能，如有興趣參加者應盡早登記。登記表格可於美國國務院的網頁找到。請注意，登記參加此計畫是毋需付費的，所以遇到有不法之徒要求你付費參加此計畫，切記不要被騙。

登記時要上載照片，而且照片有嚴格規定，所以申請人應避免拖延到最後一刻才登記。如欲得到更多關於照片的資料，請流覽美國國務院的網頁。

申請人可於明年五月五日到國務院網頁，使用登記號碼檢查結果。請注意，國務院是不會透過任何形式，包括電郵丶電話丶或郵件通知被抽中的幸運兒。

最後，幸運兒必須在抽中的財政年度內申請移民簽證或在境內調整身份，逾期作廢。此外，由於每年國務院都會抽出比可以批出簽證的人數多的幸運兒，所以幸運兒被抽中後亦應盡快遞交申請，不要拖延。

以上資料僅供參考之用，並非法律意見。如有個別問題，請致電本所查詢。

Proposed Changes in the Senate's Immigration Reform Bill (2) 參議院移民制度改革法案的措施 (2)

In the Senate Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill, there are a few proposed changes to the H-1B non-immigrant visa.  Some of the proposed changes include:

 

1. Raise the H-1B quota from 65,000 to no fewer than 110,000 and no more than 180,000.  A mechanism will be used to determine the exact number for every year.
2. Instead of reserving 20,000 H-1B visa to applicants with an advanced degree, the visa exemption will apply to STEM graduates and the number of exemptions will be raised from 20,000 to 25,000.
3. Allow the spouse of an H-1B holder to apply for a work permit if certain requirements are met.
4. Provide a grace period of 60 days to H-1B workers after the employment is over.
5. Require H-1B employer to pay a higher salary to H-1B worker than to U.S. workers.
6. Require H-1B employer to post its job opening on the DOL's website for 30 days before filing an LCA.
7. Require H-1B employer to attest that it has not and will not displace a U.S. worker 90 days before and after filing an LCA.  

In addition, there are also other proposed changes:

1. Loosen the requirements for L-1 workers who will open a new office and give flexibility to how long the extension can be granted.
2. Allow F-1 students to have dual intent (immigrant intent is allowed)
3. Add a new "W" visa category to allow retirees to purchase properties in the U.S. to retire.  

Disclaimer: Information included in this page does not constitute as legal advice and receipt of this page does not establish attorney-client relationship. For specific inquiries, please call my office and schedule an appointment.

在參議院的移民制度改革法案中，除了提及移民簽證及配額的問題外，還提到H-1B非移民簽證的問題。其中，議案建議包括

1. 將每年H-1B的配額從65,000提升到不少於110,000個及不多過180,000個，並設立機制決定H-1B的簽證數目。
2. 將每年預留給碩士學位的H-1B簽證會改為預留給科學、科技、工程及數學科的畢業生，並將名額從20,000個提高到25,000個。
3. 容許某些H-1B持有人的配偶申請工作證。
4. 容許H-1B持有人在工作結束後有六十天時間離開美國。
5. 要求H-1B僱主支付比美國本土更高的薪水予H-1B員工。
6. 要求H-1B僱主在申請LCA前要在勞工部的網站刊登該職位空缺三十天。
7. 要求H-1B僱主證明申請之前及之後的90天沒有及不會取締美國本土的員工。

除此之外，申請亦提到對的改革建議：

1. 放寬對在美國開設新公司及辦公室的L-1申請人的要求及容許申請人在續期時可以較有彈性。
2. 容許F-1學生簽證持有人有移民傾向。
3. 增設W簽證給在美國買房屋的退休人士。

以上資料僅供參考之用，並非法律意見。如有個別問題，請致電本所查詢。

Changes in Senate's Immigration Reform Bill (1) 參議院移民制度改革法案的措施 (1)

The Senate has issued an outline of its comprehensive immigration reform bill today.  In the 17-page outline, a few pages talk about reforms on the current legal immigration system.  The following are some of the key changes:

 

1. Preference categories in family-based immigration will be reduced from four to two: unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents and married children of U.S. citizens.  Moreover, married children of U.S. citizens must apply before they turn 31.

 

2. U.S. citizens will not be able to apply for their brothers and sisters but this category will be repealed 18 months after the bill is enacted.

 

3. Spouse and unmarried children of legal permanent residents will no longer be subject to an annual quota.

 

4. Diversity visa/lottery will be abolished.

 

5. EB-1, persons holding doctorate degree, and certain physicians will no longer be subject to an annual quota.

 

6. More visa numbers will be assigned to certain existing EB-2 and EB-3 applicants. 

 

7. A new visa will be available to those who would set up a new company in the U.S.

 

8. A merit-based system will be introduced.  Merits will be given based on education, employment, length in the U.S., etc.

 

Disclaimer: Information included in this page does not constitute as legal advice and receipt of this page does not establish attorney-client relationship. For specific inquiries, please call my office and schedule an appointment.

 

參議院今天公佈了移民改革法案的摘要。在此十七頁的摘要中，有數頁提到對現有的親屬及工作移民制度的改革措施。以下是幾個比較重大的改革:

1. 受配額限制的親屬移民類別由現有的四類減至兩類。只有公民及綠卡的未婚成年子女以及公民巳婚的成年子女。再者，公民的已婚子女必須於年滿31歲前申請。

2. 公民不能再為兄弟姊妹申請，但此類別會在法案成為法律十八個月後才會被取消。

3. 綠卡持有人的配偶及未成年子女不再受配額限制。

4. 多元化抽籤移民類別會被取消。

5. EB-1，擁有博士學位，及某些醫生不再受配額限制。

6. 增加配額給部份現有EB-2及EB-3類別。

7. 增設新簽證類別給在美國創業的企業家。

8. 在簽發簽證時會加設績分制。績分會跟據學歷，工作，在美時間等考慮而分發。

 

以上資料僅供參考之用，並非法律意見。如有個別問題，請致電本所查詢。

Has Adjudication fo I-526 Stopped? I-526申請好像停了下來?

In March, USCIS announced its plan to allow applicants to file an I-526 electronically through its ELIS system.  However, many concerns about the plan were raised in the stakeholder meeting.  In particular, processing time was still a main area of concern. 

In fact, since USCIS announced its plan to move I-526 adjudications to Washington D.C. from California, it looks like adjudication of I-526 application has stopped.  On January 4 of this year, the California Service Center announced that as of November 30, 2012, they were processing I-526 that were submitted by March 16, 2012.  On April 3, 2013, the CSC made another announcement and as of February 28, 2013, they were still processing I-526 applications that were submitted by March 16, 2012.  In other words, in the three months between December 2012 and February 2013, it looks like USCIS has stopped processing I-526.  I guess I-526 applicants may need to be more patient as a result.

Disclaimer: Information included in this page does not constitute as legal advice and receipt of this page does not establish attorney-client relationship. For specific inquiries, please call my office and schedule an appointment.

 

美國移民局在三月底宣佈，當局有意於今年暑假開始接受申請人透過其ELIS 系統提交的I-526電子申請。可是在移民局為此事所舉辦的電話會議中，很多與會者擔心此舉會弊多於利。其中，處理申請的時間仍然是大家關心的地方。

其實自從移民局較早時宣佈I-526申請會從加州搬到華盛頓特區的新辦公室之後，I-526申請便好像停了下來。在今年一月四日，移民局公佈，截至去年十一月三十日，移民局正處理去年三月十六日提交的I-526申請。可是在今年四月三日，移民局再公佈，截至今年二月二十八日，移民局還是在處理去年三月十六日提交的I-526申請。換言之，移民局在去年十二月至今年二月的這三個月好像停了下來。I-526的申請人看來還是要再耐心一點了。

 

以上資料僅供參考之用，並非法律意見。如有個別問題，請致電本所查詢。

September 2011 China Business Trip 2011年9月中國之旅

I was fortunate enough to be invited to visit Yunnan and Shandong Provinces in China in September 2011.  During this trip, I attended meetings, did a short presentation, and visited with potential clients.  Here are some pictures of the trip: 

2013 Diversity Visa Lottery Program 多國籍移民簽證計劃

If you are interested in the diversity lottery program for the fiscal year of 2013, you may start submitting application from October 4 to November 5, 2011. Like last year, 50,000 immigrant visas will be available under the program for the fiscal year of 2013. Result of the lottery will be made available on May 1, 2012.

A couple friendly reminders: 1) Persons born in Mainland China, Mexico, and other countries where a large number of immigrants come from are not eligible to participate in the lottery; 2) the program is completely free and only those who win will be required to pay a visa application fee; 3) winners will not be notified by mail or email by the State Department.

Disclaimer: Information included in this page does not constitute as legal advice and receipt of this page does not establish attorney-client relationship. For specific inquiries, please call my office and schedule an appointment.

如果你有興趣參加2013財政年度的多國籍移民簽證計劃，你需要在2011年10月1日至11月5日期間遞交申請表。與去年一樣，多國籍移民簽證計劃今年將會提供50,000個移民簽證配額。抽籤結果將會在2012年5月1日公佈。

以下是關於此計劃的溫馨提示：1)於中國大陸、墨西哥等移民主要來源地出生的人士是不能參加此計劃的；2) 多國籍移民簽證計劃是免費參加的。只有符合資格而被選中面談的申請人需繳交簽證的申請費；3)國務院不會將中籤通知書以郵件或電郵方式寄給被抽中的幸運兒。

以上資料僅供參考之用，並非法律意見。如有個別問題，請致電本人查詢。