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Primary sources

Laws, orders,
and official guidance.

Direct links to the statutes, executive orders, policy manuals, and State Department guidance that govern the visa categories we handle.

Categories Executive orders · Federal statutes · USCIS policy · State Department
Last reviewed May 2026
Executive Orders
Federal Statutes
USCIS Policy Manual
State Department

All links point to official government sources (.gov). Links open in a new tab. If a document has been superseded or relocated, let us know.

Executive Orders

Presidential proclamations & directives

4 documents
Executive Order
EO 14161 — Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats
Directed a comprehensive review of vetting and screening protocols for foreign nationals seeking entry. Serves as the policy foundation for subsequent travel restriction proclamations.
Jan 20, 2025 Federal Register
Presidential Proclamation
Restricting Entry of Nationals from Designated Countries
Imposed full or partial entry restrictions on nationals of 19 designated countries based on security risk assessments and information-sharing deficiencies. Effective March 2025.
Mar 2025 Federal Register
Presidential Proclamation
December 2025 Expansion — Additional Nationals and Partial Ban Designations
Extended travel restrictions to nationals of 20 additional countries; broadened criteria for partial ban designations to include nationals with ties to designated countries through secondary citizenship or recent travel.
Dec 2025 Federal Register
Executive Order
EO 14159 — Protecting the American People Against Invasion
Directed prioritization of immigration enforcement and expanded grounds for expedited removal. Relevant to clients with pending status changes or travel outside the United States.
Jan 20, 2025 Federal Register
Federal Statutes

Immigration and Nationality Act

6 documents
INA § 101(a)(15)(O)
O-1 Nonimmigrant Classification — Extraordinary Ability and Achievement
Statutory definition of the O-1A (extraordinary ability in business, science, education, or athletics) and O-1B (extraordinary achievement in arts, motion picture, or television) nonimmigrant categories.
8 U.S.C. § 1101 U.S. Code
INA § 101(a)(15)(L)
L-1 Nonimmigrant Classification — Intracompany Transferees
Defines qualifying relationships, managerial and executive capacity, and specialized knowledge standards for L-1A and L-1B intracompany transferee visas and the EB-1C immigrant pathway.
8 U.S.C. § 1101 U.S. Code
INA § 203(b)(1)
EB-1 Priority Workers — Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Researchers, Multinational Managers
First-preference employment-based immigrant visa classifications, including EB-1A (extraordinary ability, self-petition), EB-1B (outstanding professors and researchers), and EB-1C (multinational managers and executives).
8 U.S.C. § 1153(b) U.S. Code
INA § 203(b)(2)(B)
EB-2 National Interest Waiver
Statutory basis for waiving the PERM labor certification and job offer requirement for advanced degree professionals whose immigration is in the national interest. Adjudicated under the Matter of Dhanasar (AAO 2016) three-prong framework.
8 U.S.C. § 1153(b) U.S. Code
INA § 212(a)
Grounds of Inadmissibility
Full enumeration of grounds on which foreign nationals may be denied admission or a visa, including health, criminal, national security, public charge, and travel ban-related bars. Essential reference for any client with complex history.
8 U.S.C. § 1182 U.S. Code
Public Law 117-103 (Div. BB)
EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022
Reauthorized the EB-5 Regional Center Program; established rural, high-unemployment, and infrastructure set-asides; introduced enhanced integrity measures including new source-of-funds disclosure requirements and USCIS oversight authority.
Mar 15, 2022 Congress.gov
USCIS Policy Manual

Adjudication standards & guidance

5 documents
Policy Manual — Vol. 2, Part M
Nonimmigrant Classifications: O and P Visas
USCIS adjudication guidance for O-1A extraordinary ability, O-1B extraordinary achievement, O-2 essential support, and O-3 dependent classifications. Covers evidentiary criteria, peer consultation requirements, and itinerary standards.
Current USCIS.gov
Policy Manual — Vol. 2, Part L
Nonimmigrant Classifications: Intracompany Transferees (L Visa)
Guidance on qualifying organizational relationships, specialized knowledge standards, blanket L petition procedures, and the distinction between L-1A (managerial/executive) and L-1B (specialized knowledge) classifications.
Current USCIS.gov
Policy Manual — Vol. 6, Part F
Employment-Based Classifications: EB-1 Priority Workers
Adjudication standards for EB-1A (ten evidentiary criteria, final merits determination), EB-1B (outstanding researchers and professors), and EB-1C (multinational managers and executives, qualifying employment requirements).
Current USCIS.gov
Policy Manual — Vol. 6, Part F, Ch. 5
National Interest Waivers — Dhanasar Framework
USCIS guidance implementing the Matter of Dhanasar three-prong test: (1) substantial merit and national importance, (2) well-positioned to advance the endeavor, (3) balance of benefits to waiving the job offer requirement.
Current USCIS.gov
Policy Manual — Vol. 6, Part G
Employment-Based Classifications: EB-5 Immigrant Investors
Investment thresholds (standard and TEA), new commercial enterprise requirements, job creation standards, source and path of funds, regional center program rules, and redeployment of capital guidance post-EB-5 Reform Act.
Current USCIS.gov
State Department

Consular guidance & visa policy

4 documents
9 FAM 402.13
O and P Nonimmigrant Visas — Consular Processing Guidance
Foreign Affairs Manual provisions governing consular officer adjudication of O-1 visa applications, including peer consultation requirements, itinerary review, validity determinations, and reciprocity schedules.
Current State Dept FAM
9 FAM 302.14
National Security and Related Grounds of Ineligibility
Consular guidance on security-related inadmissibility grounds, including travel ban designation procedures, national interest exception (NIE) standards, and coordination with DHS and intelligence community requirements.
Current State Dept FAM
9 FAM 502.7
Visa Sanctions and Travel Restrictions
Processing guidance for posts handling applications subject to Presidential Proclamation travel restrictions, including exception categories (diplomatic, LPR family, national interest), documentation requirements, and referral protocols.
Current State Dept FAM
Visa Bulletin
Monthly Visa Bulletin — Employment-Based Priority Dates
Current and historical priority date cut-offs for employment-based immigrant visa categories by country of chargeability. Updated monthly; determines when adjustment of status or consular processing may proceed for backlogged categories.
Monthly Travel.State.gov