IMMIGRATION ALERTS

What is EB-2 visa? Comprehensive 2026 guide with requirements, costs, processing times, forms, and checklists.

Comprehensive EB-1 visa guide 2026: Requirements, costs, processing times, forms, and evidence checklists for all subcategories.

USCIS updates Form I-9 guidance for TPS holders from 7 countries. New expiration dates: July 17, 2026 and July 24, 2026 (Haiti).

US ESTA 2026 guide: The Electronic System for Travel Authorization has been thrown into chaos as the World Cup begins. Scottish football fans and Swiss national team player Breel Embolo have had their approved ESTAs revoked without warning. Learn about the $40.27 fee, 2-year validity, application process, proposed changes, and what to do if your ESTA is revoked.

USCIS revises M-274 Handbook: TPS-based EAD automatic extensions limited/eliminated. 540-day extension ends for filings after Oct 30, 2025. H.R. 1 caps TPS EADs at 1 year.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has published its June 2026 PERM and PWD processing update. Analyst reviews are now processing June 2025 filings (13+ months), audit reviews are at December 2025, and PWD issuance is at a steady 2-3 month pace. Employers must factor in these substantial backlogs for green card planning.

The Departments of Homeland Security, Labor, and State have released their 2026 regulatory agendas, outlining major immigration rulemaking priorities. Key actions include finalising fixed admission periods for F-1 students (4-year cap), proposing H-1B program reforms (August 2026), modernising PERM labor market tests (July 2026), and raising prevailing wage levels by 21–33%. The 75-country immigrant visa suspension remains in effect indefinitely.

USCIS has announced a short-term automatic extension of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for TPS beneficiaries from Burma (Myanmar), Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen until July 10, 2026. The extension follows the Supreme Court ruling allowing TPS termination for Haiti and Syria, providing temporary relief while litigation continues for these five countries.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released a proposed rule to implement key provisions of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022. Key proposals include raising the minimum investment for high employment areas to $1,400,000, mandatory biometrics at the I-526 stage, codified audit and site visit requirements for Regional Centers, and priority date retention for investors. Public comments accepted for 60 days from July 2, 2026.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to strike down President Trump's executive order attempting to limit birthright citizenship, firmly upholding the 14th Amendment's Citizenship Clause. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that children born in the U.S. to undocumented or temporary residents are "subject to the jurisdiction" of the United States and entitled to citizenship.

The H-2B FY 2027 filing window for the first half of the fiscal year opens July 3–5, 2026. OFLC warns employers to file one application per job opportunity, complete Appendix B with original signatures, and avoid early filings. Applications submitted before the window opens will be denied. Random assignment of timely applications follows the window.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a Final Rule formalising the foreign national registration requirement first introduced in 2025. The rule codifies existing processes without expanding scope. Key clarifications include explicit exemptions for Trusted Traveler Program members (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI), no new categories added, and a requirement for foreign national children turning 14 while in the US to re-register.

Senator Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) is set to introduce the Living Wage for All Act, a sweeping proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $25 per hour by 2031 for large employers. The bill includes an extended timeline for smaller employers until 2038. MIT's Living Wage Calculator shows $25/hour is enough for single adults in 36 states, but falls short for families in most states.

The U.S. Department of State has released June 18, 2026 visa wait times data showing Toronto at 21 months (one of the longest globally), Ottawa 14 months, Vancouver 12 months, Hyderabad 9.5 months, Mumbai 9.5 months, and New Delhi 7.5 months for B-1/B-2 interviews. Kinshasa H/L/O/P/Q waits surged 257% to 12.5 months.

USCIS has issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0200 clarifying that dairy operations may qualify for H-2A visas when they can demonstrate a temporary or seasonal labor need. The "totality of circumstances" test applies, and existing H-2A requirements—including U.S. worker recruitment and wage obligations—remain in effect. The guidance took effect June 17, 2026.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled 6-3 that federal courts cannot review DHS TPS determinations on non-constitutional grounds, clearing the way for termination of Haiti and Syria TPS designations. Tens of thousands of beneficiaries will lose work authorization and deportation protections. DHS is expected to issue wind-down guidance shortly.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed significant increases in US naturalization fees, with the N-400 form rising by up to 75% to $1,330 for paper filings. The rule eliminates reduced fees for low-income applicants and fee waivers for most. Public comments are open for 60 days

I-9 compliance is now one of the highest-risk areas for US employers in 2026. ICE has ramped up worksite enforcement, reclassified many errors as substantive violations, and increased penalties. This guide covers the latest I-9 rules, E-Verify mandates, step-by-step audit readiness, and practical strategies to avoid fines and legal exposure.

The July 2026 Visa Bulletin brings mixed news: EB-1 India retrogresses 2 months to October 15, 2022; EB-3 China advances nearly 5 months to December 22, 2021; EB-2 India and EB-5 India remain unavailable. USCIS will accept adjustment of status filings based on Final Action Dates. EB-3 India moves forward 2 weeks to January 1, 2014.

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the H-2B visa filing window for employers seeking foreign non-agricultural workers starting October 1, 2026. The three-day window runs from July 3 to July 5, 2026. With only 33,000 visas available for the first half of FY2027, employers must prepare now and file early to secure workers for landscaping, hospitality, construction, and seafood processing.