SIB Consults

Here’s my perspective on the new USCIS policy memorandum regarding Adjustment of Status (AOS).

There will likely be significant legal challenges to this policy, as many immigration attorneys believe portions of the memo conflict with the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). At this stage, much remains uncertain, particularly regarding how individual USCIS field offices will interpret and apply the guidance.

In practice, adjudicating officers are expected to receive additional internal instructions, and supervisors may issue further direction on how cases should be approved or denied. For now, the immigration community is largely in a “wait and see” period.

One major issue is that the memo does not clearly define what qualifies as “extraordinary circumstances.” Potential examples may include serious medical conditions, humanitarian concerns, fear of returning to one’s home country, or other compelling factors — but USCIS has not yet provided concrete standards.

The memo also suggests USCIS will apply a “totality of the circumstances” analysis, meaning officers may balance negative factors against positive equities in each case.

Examples of negative factors could include:

• Unauthorized employment
• Extended overstays
• Misrepresentation or false information in prior immigration filings
• Criminal history
• Prior immigration violations

Notably, the memo does not directly reference immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, such as spouses or parents. However, these categories may still be heavily impacted, since they represent a large portion of Adjustment of Status filings within the United States.

For individuals who may be affected, some practical next steps include:

• Consulting an experienced immigration attorney to identify any potential risk factors and develop strategies to address them
• Monitoring updates from USCIS, attorneys, and applicants attending interviews, as real-world adjudication trends become clearer over time
• Preparing financially and strategically for the possibility of pursuing relief before an immigration judge if USCIS denies the AOS application

It is also important to remember that this policy primarily affects USCIS discretion over Adjustment of Status applications. In many family-based cases, the underlying I-130 petition may still be approved, potentially allowing applicants to renew their adjustment request before the immigration court if placed into removal proceedings.

At this point, clarity will likely come through future litigation, updated USCIS guidance, and actual case outcomes in the months ahead.

- Seun Joshua

Lead Consultant, SIB Consults

Website: sibconsults.netlify.app

Email ✉️: [email protected]

Breaking News: “USCIS is applying long-standing law and prior court decisions to require certain aliens with temporary visas who decide they want to permanently reside in the U.S. to return to their home countries to apply for permanent visas through the U.S. Department of State.

We're returning to the original intent of the law to ensure aliens navigate our nation’s immigration system properly “ - USCIS

Here’s what you should know: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/us-citizenship-and-immigration-services-will-grant-adjustment-of-status-only-in-extraordinary

📌 10 Ways Job Seekers Can Use AI to Get a Job Faster

Getting a job today is not just about applying more.

It's about applying smarter.

AI can help you stand out, move faster, and make better decisions at every stage of your job search.

Here's how to actually use it

1. Resume & Profile Optimization

Use AI to rewrite resumes, optimize keywords, and improve LinkedIn profiles so they match job descriptions and pass ATS filters effectively.

2. Job Search & Discovery

Find relevant roles based on your skills, analyze job descriptions, and uncover hidden opportunities that align with your experience.

3. Skill Building & Learning

Identify skill gaps, get personalized learning roadmaps, and discover courses or projects that help you become job-ready faster.

4. Interview Preparation

Practice mock interviews, generate common questions, and refine answers using structured frameworks like STAR for better performance.

5. Application & Outreach

Draft cold emails, cover letters, and referral messages that are personalized and increase your chances of getting noticed.

6. Personal Branding

Create LinkedIn content, build your story, and position yourself clearly so recruiters understand your value quickly.

7. Portfolio & Projects

Generate project ideas, improve case studies, and build strong portfolios that showcase real-world problem-solving ability.

8. Salary & Negotiation

Use AI to understand salary benchmarks, prepare negotiation scripts, and evaluate offers with better clarity.

9. Productivity & Organization

Plan daily job search tasks, track applications, and manage follow-ups to stay consistent and organized.

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Write thank-you emails, follow-ups, and response templates that help you maintain relationships and close opportunities effectively.

📌 What This Means

AI is not just a shortcut.

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Most professionals ask:

“Which visa is better — O-1, EB-1A, or EB-2 NIW?”

But the better question is:

Which option fits your goals, timeline, and current profile?

Immigration strategy is not only about qualifying for a category.

It is also about timing, preparation, and long-term positioning.

Here is what many applicants overlook:

• O-1 can move relatively quickly, especially with premium processing

• EB-1A offers a direct path to permanent residency, but building strong evidence often takes time

• EB-2 NIW is an excellent long-term option, though the process may require more patience

One of the biggest mistakes professionals make is waiting until they urgently need a visa before preparing their case.

Strong petitions are usually built over time, not at the last minute.

In many cases, the people who move fastest are those who started preparing months in advance.

Your immigration pathway should support your career growth, not slow it down.

If you are exploring O-1, EB-1A, or EB-2 NIW options, understanding the timelines and preparation involved is essential.

At SIB Consults, we help professionals create proactive immigration strategies tailored to their goals and career plans.

Planning to file an O-1 within the next year?

Starting early can make a significant difference.

Learn more about O-1, EB-1A, and EB-2 NIW or schedule a free consultation:

👉 sibconsults.netlify.app

Let's say you have:

📌 a Valid passport;

📌 an H-1B visa that expired on some time ago;

📌 H-1B extension approval notice valid until sometime in the future.

You traveled outside the U.S. and returned. But your 1-94 related to the travel has an expiration date of visa, not the extension.

This can happen if you don't present the 1-797 for the H-1B extension.

Always check your 1-94 upon your return.

If this happens, you may first try reaching out to CBP to correct the 1-94.

Here is CBP's contact info:

LinkedIn

Immigration tip that could save your visa application:

The US government is now using Al to cross-check data across agencies - and inconsistencies are getting flagged.

If you're a foreign national applying for a visa or immigration benefits, here's what you need to know:

Your DS-160 form needs to match your USCIS applications, and vice versa. Exactly.

can We're seeing a growing pattern of agencies catching data discrepancies across applications. A small inconsistency - a middle name, a date, an address create serious delays or complications.

3 things to do right now:

1. Save your DS-160 - Use "Save Application to File" to download a copy to your personal device. Share those files with your immigration counsel

2. Cross-check everything - Compare your DS-160 against any prior or pending USCIS filings

3. Use the reuse feature - The DS-160 allows you to pull data from prior applications. Use it to keep things consistent

This isn't just good practice anymore. With Al-driven cross-agency data sharing expanding, consistency across your immigration record is more important than ever.

Save this post. Share it with someone navigating the US immigration process.

USCIS may be quietly pausing approvals across multiple case types.

And this has nothing to do with the strength of your case.

Over the past several days, practitioners across multiple jurisdictions have observed a consistent pattern: cases that appear otherwise approvable are not being finalized.

On April 28, American Immigration Lawyers Association issued a practice alert noting that a new or expanded security vetting process may be contributing to these delays. Reports indicate that, in some instances, additional fingerprinting or background checks are being required even where prior FBI clearances were already completed.

USCIS has not issued a formal public announcement on this development. As a result, much of the information currently available is based on practitioner experience, field office interactions, and direct feedback during interviews.

In several recent interviews, officers have indicated that cases appear approvable but cannot be finalized due to internal instructions. This suggests a procedural hold, not a substantive issue with eligibility.

What this means in practical terms:

* A pending case, by itself, should not be interpreted as a negative signal

* Interview outcomes may not result in same day decisions, even where the case is well prepared

* Delays may affect even strong filings with no apparent deficiencies

At this stage, there is no confirmed timeline for resolution.

If you have a case pending or an interview scheduled, the key takeaway is this: lack of movement right now does not necessarily reflect a problem with your case.

For free profile evaluation for EB2-NIW and EB1A, send a DM:

WhatsApp: wa.me/+17879365071

Mail your CV/resume to [email protected]

wa.me

How to extend your UK skilled work visa📌👇

Based on a recent EB-2 NIW AAO decision (from March of this year, link in the comments), proposed endeavors that lack specificity can lead to pushback on prong one.

In this decision, while the petitioner shows that they will be collaborating with a professor on their proposed endeavor (the byproduct of which is intended to be open-source algorithm), the evidence presented does not establish:

The petitioner's specific contributions to these projects.

The times and places in which they perform whatever tasks helps with these projects.

How the projects are funded.

Based on this decision, simply intending to work on a proposed endeavor is not enough.

You need to also describe specifics and details as to how you intend to carry out (or are already carrying out) your proposed endeavor.

Here is a link to the full AAO decision:👇

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/err/B5%20-%20Members %20of%20the%20Professions%20holding%20Advanced%20Degrees %20or%20Aliens%20of%20Exceptional%20Ability/Decisions_Issued _in_2026/MAR242026_01B5203.pdf

🚀 We Just Made It Official.

For a long time, we has been quietly helping people rewrite their stories — getting students into UK, Canadian and US universities, helping professionals secure life-changing US visas, and turning complex immigration paperwork into winning petitions.

Today, we step into the spotlight. 🌟

Our website is officially LIVE — and with it, our doors are now open to clients worldwide. 🌍

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No matter where you are — Lagos, London, Toronto, Houston, or anywhere in between — you now have access to:

🎓 Expert Canadian Study Permit Consulting
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We didn't just build a website. We built a gateway— for dreamers, go-getters, and anyone bold enough to pursue a life beyond borders.

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sibconsultsglobal.netlify.app

WhatsApp: wa.me/2349128181107

Tag someone who needs this.

You might just change their life. 💛

Cc: Seun Joshua

sibconsultsglobal.net

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