Blog

A federal court has ordered the State Department to announce and open DV-2027 lottery registration on a revised schedule. Registration is not yet open, and applicants should wait for official instructions.

USCIS has proposed ending deference to prior approvals for many Form I-129 extension petitions. The rule is not final, but employers and workers should understand what may change.

U.S. trademark owners seeking international protection must now use WIPO’s Madrid e-Filing platform for initial Madrid Protocol applications. Here is what changed and why careful planning still matters.

USCIS has reopened its Annual Asylum Fee payment portal after a federal court injunction. Learn who may be affected and why case-specific review matters.

Microsoft and other major technology firms face reported PERM suspensions amid federal fraud investigations. The developing action may affect labor certifications without automatically canceling H-1B status or every green-card case.

Congress extended the EB-4 Certain Religious Workers program through December 11, 2026. The category remains available temporarily, but applicants must still consider priority dates, visa availability, and case-specific processing.

A State Department pilot lets eligible B-visa applicants at selected posts pay $750 for an interview within 10 business days. The fee buys an earlier appointment—not faster adjudication or visa approval.

The State Department updated its visa-bond country list on October 2, 2026. Some otherwise eligible B-1/B-2 applicants may be required to post a $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 bond after a consular officer directs them to do so.

The FY 2026 H-2B supplemental visa authority ended September 30, and USCIS cannot approve petitions under that temporary rule on or after October 1. Employers should distinguish this closeout from the regular H-2B cap and any future FY 2027 action.

USCIS has announced inflation-based adjustments to several H.R. 1 immigration fees for fiscal year 2027. Some fees rise while others remain unchanged, and filings with incorrect fees may be rejected.

DHS has proposed a new $103,265 fee for H-1B cap-subject petitions. The proposal is not final, but employers and prospective workers should understand its potential reach.

September 30 is the final statutory day for DV-2026 visa eligibility. Selectees with unfinished cases face a hard deadline, while the government’s issuance pause adds uncertainty.

USCIS will allow both family-sponsored and employment-based adjustment applicants to use the October 2026 Dates for Filing charts. Several categories advance, but eligibility still depends on the applicant’s priority date and circumstances.

A new presidential proclamation extends the H-1B entry restriction tied to a $100,000 employer payment for another 12 months. The practical effect depends on where the worker is located, how the petition is structured, and whether an exception applies.

The State Department has announced visa restrictions targeting people who knowingly engage in or facilitate commercial birth tourism. The policy is broader than the existing visitor-visa rule, but key implementation details remain unclear.

The September 2026 Visa Bulletin warns that India EB-1 could become unavailable before the fiscal year ends. Here is what that warning means—and what it does not mean.

The State Department has acknowledged a CEAC Cloudflare error affecting some immigrant visa users. Here is what the issue means—and what remains uncertain.

USCIS corrected the evidence rules for certain U.S.-born children of foreign government employees seeking to register permanent residence. The correction applies from September 4, 2026.

DHS has extended its nationwide mass-influx finding for another 180 days. The notice preserves authority to request state and local assistance with federal immigration enforcement.

Starting October 1, 2026, the State Department will expand online-presence review to TN, TD, and I visa applicants. Here is what the change may mean.

A new DHS public charge rule took effect September 18, 2026. It broadens the information officers may consider in certain admission and adjustment-of-status cases, making individualized review especially important.

DHS has changed permanent-residence registration rules for certain U.S.-born children of foreign government employees. The rule is effective, but court limits and individual facts matter.

Beginning October 1, 2026, the State Department will expand online-presence review to TN, TD, and I visa applicants. The announcement also instructs affected applicants to make social media profiles public or open.

A federal court has temporarily blocked the fixed-admission rule for F, J, and I nonimmigrants. Learn what remains unchanged and what may happen next.

The State Department now generally directs nonimmigrant visa applicants to interview in their country of nationality or residence. Learn what the rule means for third-country applications, fees, and existing appointments.