In a turbulent two weeks for U.S. immigration policy, Pope Leo XIII publicly denounced the Trump administration’s immigration measures as “inhumane”, condemning the restrictions on nonimmigrant workers and tightening of refugee and family programs. At the same time, a looming federal government shutdown has added uncertainty to visa processing, USCIS operations, and pending cases nationwide.
USCIS Updates Form I-130 Guidance for Family-Based Petitions
In late September 2025, USCIS quietly refreshed its public guidance for Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. The revision aligns the form with current electronic filing systems and clarifies evidence standards for both immediate relative and preference category petitions.
The new version specifies that all I-130s must use the edition dated 09/25/25, replacing the previous 07/20/24 edition. USCIS added a requirement for full-page signatures on electronically printed forms, replacing prior guidance that allowed scanned or partial signatures.
Evidence sections were reorganized:
- The marriage-based petition category now requires submission of a marriage certificate plus at least two forms of relationship proof (such as joint bank statements, leases, or insurance policies), where previously only one was listed as typical evidence.
- For parent-child relationships, USCIS updated acceptable documentation examples to include DNA results and clarified that hospital-issued certificates are not substitutes for civil birth records.
- For adopted children, the new instructions specify inclusion of both the adoption decree and legal custody evidence if the adoption occurred abroad, replacing the single-document reference used previously.
- A new note clarifies that translations must include a certification statement, even for supporting documents not originally filed in English, updating the earlier language that allowed “informal” translations in certain cases.
USCIS also consolidated mailing and lockbox guidance, directing all paper submissions to the Chicago Lockbox regardless of petitioner location, replacing prior split addresses for different states.
Higher Fees for ESTA, EVUS, and I-94 Take Effect at Fiscal Year’s End
Starting September 30, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will begin collecting new and increased fees under H.R. 1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) for several key immigration and travel authorizations. The new fee schedule includes a combined $30 total fee for land-border I-94 records (comprised of the existing $6 plus a newly mandated $24 surcharge), an increase in the ESTA application fee from $21 to $40, and a new $30 fee for EVUS enrollment, which applies to Chinese nationals traveling on eligible B-1/B-2 visas.
The changes stem from a Federal Register notice issued by CBP pursuant to HR-1, which requires additional immigration fees to support government immigration infrastructure and border operations. The adjustments are not merely optional — they are mandated by statute and will take effect automatically at the close of the fiscal year unless challenged or modified through further regulation.
For travelers crossing U.S. land borders who require an I-94 record, the jump from $6 to $30 will be especially noticeable. Meanwhile, ESTA applicants under the Visa Waiver Program now face nearly a doubling of cost, and Chinese nationals using EVUS will be charged for the first time. International mobility and affordability are directly affected, especially for those who cross frequently or rely on short-term travel authorizations.
