Case Album

News & Updates

Recent changes and common questions for the DV lottery, RFE, NIW, EB-1A, marriage and fiancé(e) cases, explained in plain language with links to the official sources.

Case Album is not affiliated with USCIS or the U.S. Department of State. This is general information, not legal advice.

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DV Lottery 2027

Latest updates & answers

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DV overview
01
DV Lottery 2027 Registration Date: Is It Open Today?No. DV-2027 registration is paused: an appeals court put the November 1 opening on hold. What happened, the $1 fee, passport scans and photo rules.Read in 1 minute
02
DV-2027 fee: is it really $1?The official fee table lists $1 at entry and $330 per visa applicant if selected. What is confirmed and what payment details remain unknown.Read in 1 minute
03
DV-2027 passport scan: what file do I need?The new rule requires a valid passport and a JPEG/JFIF scan of its biographic and signature page, up to 5 MB, with limited exemptions.Read in 1 minute
04
DV photo: size, background and common mistakesA quick DV photo checklist: 600 × 600 pixels, JPEG, 240 KB or less, recent photo, plain background and no glasses.Read in 1 minute
05
DV-2027: what should I prepare before entering?A one-minute checklist of passport, photos, family details, eligibility and confirmation-number precautions for your DV entry.Read in 1 minute
06
DV-2027 or DV-2028: which lottery is this?The year names refer to visa years, not the year you submit an entry. Why the delayed DV-2027 entry period is causing confusion.Read in 1 minute
November 2026 Visa Bulletin, made simpleThis month's dates, what moved, and whether your priority date qualifies. With charts.Diversity Visa lotteryDV-2027 Entry Checklist: Passport, Photos, Fees and Next StepsDV-2027 registration is paused by an appeals court. Passport and photo rules, entry checklist, interview documents, fees, flights and your green card.NIW and EB-1AMicrosoft PERM Suspended: Can Employees Apply for NIW or EB-1A Instead?Affected by the Microsoft, Adobe or Infosys PERM suspension? Learn how EB-2 NIW and EB-1A differ from PERM and whether self-petitioning may be an option.Community questionUSCIS RFE Response Received Date Changed: Does It Mean Approval?An RFE response date changed in your USCIS account? What applicants report, what the date cannot prove, and what to save and check next.Evidence preparationUSCIS Evidence PDF Too Large to Upload? A Practical ChecklistTrouble uploading evidence to USCIS? Check the portal’s file limit, split PDFs clearly, preserve readable scans, and keep proof of submission.NIW and RFENIW RFE for National Importance: Why Prong 1 MattersUSCIS evaluates the specific proposed endeavor in an NIW case, not only whether the applicant works in an important field.RFE policyBefore You File: Check Your Required USCIS EvidenceCheck your form's required evidence, translations and readable copies before filing. A practical document checklist, separate from the RFE policy news report.EB-1A and RFEEB-1A RFE After Meeting Three Criteria: What Final Merits MeansMeeting three EB-1A evidentiary criteria does not end the analysis. USCIS also reviews the record as a whole in a final merits determination.RFE policyUSCIS Can Deny Some Cases Without an RFE: What Policy Alert PA-2026-05 SaysUSCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-05 lets officers deny some filings without an RFE first. What USCIS says, what law firms report and what to check on your notice.Community question explainedUSCIS FBI Privacy Notice: Why It Suddenly Appeared in Your AccountMany applicants found a USCIS letter titled “FBI Privacy Requirements for Biometrics Collection” in September 2026. What it is and what it does not mean.Community question explained“Case Required USCIS To Send A Notice”: Why Applicants Are Seeing This StatusWhat the USCIS status “Case Required USCIS To Send A Notice” means, what applicants report, and why it does not show approval or denial.Community question explainedUSCIS Silent Update: What It Means When the Date Changes but the Status Does NotA silent update changes your USCIS case date without a new status message. What it can mean, why applicants are watching it now, and what to check.

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