New Restrictions on U.S. Legal Immigration Rules
美國合法移民新限制規定
Introduction
The United States government introduced several policy changes in July to make the process of applying for permanent residency more difficult and to increase the requirements for filing applications.
美國政府於 7 月推出了幾項政策變動，使申請永久居留權的過程變得更加困難，並提高了遞交申請的要求。
Main Body
These changes are based on three main factors: the July 2026 Visa Bulletin, a new Department of Homeland Security regulation, and a policy memo from May. For example, because the annual limits have been reached, employment-based second preference (EB-2) and certain investor visas (EB-5) are no longer available for Indian citizens for the rest of the fiscal year. Furthermore, the USCIS continues to use a strict chart that limits who can apply for a change in status based on specific dates.
這些變動基於三個主要因素：2026 年 7 月的簽證公告（Visa Bulletin）、國土安全部的一項新規定，以及 5 月的一份政策備忘錄。例如，由於年度配額已滿，印度公民在本財政年度剩餘時間內，將無法申請就業類第二優先（EB-2）及某些投資類簽證（EB-5）。此外，美國公民及移民服務局（USCIS）繼續使用一張嚴格的表格，根據特定日期限制可申請變更身分的人員。
Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security has given the USCIS more power to reject applications due to technical mistakes, such as missing signatures. Starting July 10, the government can keep the application fees even if the request is denied, which officials claim is necessary to ensure consistent enforcement. At the same time, a May memo now describes the status adjustment process as a 'discretionary' benefit. Consequently, officers must now evaluate each case individually rather than just checking if the applicant meets the basic legal requirements, which lawyers argue creates more uncertainty for applicants.
此外，國土安全部賦予了 USCIS 更多權限，可因技術性錯誤（如缺少簽名）而拒絕申請。從 7 月 10 日起，即使申請被拒絕，政府仍可保留申請費，官員稱此舉是為了確保執法的一致性。與此同時，5 月的一份備忘錄現將身分調整過程描述為一種「酌情」權益。因此，移民官現在必須對每個案例進行個別評估，而非僅檢查申請人是否符合基本法律要求，律師認為這會為申請人帶來更多不確定性。
Conclusion
These strict measures are expected to remain in place until the end of the fiscal year on September 30, when new visa numbers will be released.
預計這些嚴格措施將維持到 9 月 30 日財政年度結束，屆時將公布新的簽證配額。
Vocabulary Learning
The 'B2 Bridge': Moving from Simple Lists to Complex Logic
At the A2 level, you likely use and, but, and because. To reach B2, you need to show causality and addition using professional transitions. The provided text is a goldmine for this.
🧩 The Logic Shift
Look at how the text connects ideas. Instead of saying "Also," it uses "Additionally". Instead of saying "So," it uses "Consequently".
| A2 Word (Basic) | B2 Upgrade (Academic) | Effect on the Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Also | Additionally | Sounds more formal and structured. |
| So | Consequently | Shows a direct, logical result of an action. |
| But | Rather than | Contrasts two ideas more precisely. |
🔍 Precision in Meaning: "Discretionary"
In A2, you might say: "The officer decides if you get the visa." In B2, we use a high-impact adjective: Discretionary.
- Meaning: Left to individual choice or judgment; not fixed by a strict rule.
- Why it matters: B2 fluency is about describing how something happens. A "discretionary benefit" means the rules aren't just a checklist; the person in charge has the power to say yes or no based on their opinion.
⚡ Power Phrase: "Remain in place"
Stop saying "The rules will stay."
Use: "Remain in place." This is a collocation (words that naturally go together) used in legal and official English. Using these "chunks" of language makes you sound like a native speaker rather than a translator.