Department of Labor information:
DOL Latest News
December was a consequential month for immigration policy, highlighted by President Trump's expansion of the travel ban. On December 16, 2025, a new proclamation was issued that added seven new countries to the full entry prohibition list (including Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, and Syria) and placed partial restrictions on fifteen others . While this primarily affects entry, it can create uncertainty for unskilled workers from affected nations who are in the process of consular processing. The proclamation, effective January 1, 2026, also fully prohibited entry for individuals using travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority .
On the legislative front, House lawmakers held a hearing focused on union transparency, discussing several bills aimed at strengthening the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, which could impact labor organizing in sectors where unskilled foreign workers are prevalent . Furthermore, the Senate confirmed a slate of 97 presidential nominees before the holiday recess, including James Murphy and Scott Mayer as new members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), providing the board with a functioning quorum. The NLRB's rulings can set precedent for worker classification and collective bargaining rights for unskilled labor.
December 2025
December 2025 BDV Immigration Update
December proved to be another solid month for BDV's unskilled worker caseload, maintaining the steady approval pace set in November. The team continued to deliver consistent results across the board, processing over a hundred PERM certifications and I-140 petitions each, while also helping 19 unskilled workers achieve their permanent residency goal. This consistency is a testament to the robust systems in place, ensuring that processing times remain predictable and reliable for applicants even as the calendar year comes to a close and attention turns to the year ahead.
BDV Approvals (December 2025):
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13 - Green Card approvals
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113 - Labor Certification (PERM) approvals
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112 - I-140 approvals
USCIS Visa Bulletin
The first bulletin of the new calendar year, the January Visa Bulletin, was released, offering a positive start with further forward movement for unskilled workers.
Final action date: 01SEP21 (1 month movement from December)
Dates for filing: 1DEC21 (no movement)
USCIS will continue to use the Dates for Filing Chart, with the cutoff for unskilled applicants holding at 1DEC21.