DOS final rule revising the Code of Federal Regulations to amend requirements for accreditation and approval by the United States to provide adoption services in intercountry adoption cases. The final rule becomes effective 1/8/25.
The Department of State (DOS) has announced a Final Rule amending the Code of Federal Regulations. This impacts various aspects of the immigration process.
Key changes include updates to Special Immigrant Visas for U.S. government employees and revisions to intercountry adoption requirements. Additionally, there is an increased focus on enhanced vetting and social media screening for certain visa applicants, like H-1B and H-4. This signals a move towards stricter security measures and potentially longer processing times.
— What it is, why immigration lawyers rely on it, and how to use it
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the consolidated codification of rules published in the Federal Register by federal agencies. For immigration practice, the CFR contains the binding regulatory text that implements statutes in the Immigration & Nationality Act and governs agency procedures, filing requirements, and substantive eligibility rules (for example, many immigration regulations appear in Title 8 of the CFR).
What the CFR is
- Official agency rules: agencies publish final rules in the Federal Register and those rules are codified in the CFR by title and section.
- Central to immigration practice: rules on admissions, nonimmigrant classifications, waivers, adjustment, and removal are often codified at 8 C.F.R.
- Read both text and history: use the Federal Register preamble to understand agency intent and effective dates.
Where to find current text & rule history
- e-CFR for up-to-date regulatory text.
- Federal Register for the preamble, comments, and effective dates.
- Official CFR annual volumes for printed citations.
We prepare regulatory citations, track rule changes, and draft CFR-based arguments for filings and appeals.