IMMIGRATION ALERTS

DHS will publish a final rule on August 10, 2026, expanding the $4,000 H-1B and $4,500 L-1 9-11 Response Fee to all extension petitions. The rule takes effect 30 days later and applies to employers with 50+ U.S. employees where over 50% are in H-1B or L-1 status. Indian professionals and major tech firms face the biggest impact.

President Trump signed two executive orders on August 6, 2026, restricting birthright citizenship for children of foreign government employees, terrorists, and birth tourists — just weeks after the Supreme Court struck down his broader attempt to end the constitutional guarantee.

USCIS has restored officers' full discretion to deny immigration benefit requests without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID). The policy, effective August 5, 2026, applies to all pending and newly filed applications. Officers may now set shorter RFE response deadlines, and the additional 14-day mailing grace period for international applicants has been eliminated.

The U.S. State Department has launched a pilot program allowing consular officers to require immigrant visa applicants to post public charge bonds of up to $250,000. Initially targeting the Dominican Republic, the program offers an additional pathway for applicants previously found inadmissible on public charge grounds. Bond amounts are set case-by-case, and applicants cannot initiate the process on their own.

The U.S. State Department has finalized regulations making the B-1/B-2 visa bond program permanent, effective August 3, 2026. Bond amounts increase to $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000, affecting nationals of 50 designated countries, many of which are African nations. The program aims to reduce visa overstays and enforce compliance.

USCIS has extended TPS employment authorization for Ethiopia and South Sudan through August 6, 2026, marking the latest in a series of brief placeholder extensions following the Supreme Court's June 2026 ruling on TPS terminations. EADs with original expiration dates of June 12, 2024, December 12, 2025 (Ethiopia) and November 3, 2023, May 3, 2025, November 3, 2025 (South Sudan) are automatically extended.

USCIS has extended Somalia TPS employment authorization through August 3, 2026, marking the latest in a series of brief placeholder extensions following the Supreme Court's June 2026 ruling on TPS terminations. EADs with original expiration dates of March 17, 2023, September 17, 2024, and March 17, 2026 are automatically extended.

The State Department has proposed expanding J-1 exchange visitor termination grounds, including mandatory termination for any insurance failure, falsification of information, and discretionary termination for visa revocations. The 60-day public comment period opens July 30, 2026.

US visa wait times July 2026: Mumbai and Bogota hit 11 months for B-1/B-2. Hyderabad 10 months, New Delhi 8 months. Mexico launches $750 expedited pilot. Full global data.

USCIS extends Burma TPS EAD validity through August 3, 2026. Latest brief extension follows Supreme Court decision allowing TPS termination. Full details inside.

US travel advisory 2026: State Department issues Worldwide Caution. 23 Level 4 "Do Not Travel" countries. New UK ETA, Brazil eVisa, Israel ETA-IL. Full guide.

US appeals court refuses to block ruling invalidating $100,000 H-1B fee. USCIS prohibited from collecting. Employers should stop paying. Full details inside.

USCIS extends TPS EADs for Syria through July 27 and Somalia through July 29, 2026. Latest brief extensions follow Supreme Court ruling.

USCIS extends Haiti TPS EAD validity through July 27, 2026. Latest brief extension follows Supreme Court decision allowing TPS termination.

US State Department clarifies visa bond payment rules: third parties can now pay on behalf of applicants. Pay.gov link, Form I-352, refund rules.

US DOL PERM processing times July 2026: analyst review averages 403 days. Cases from July 2025 being adjudicated. Backlogs persist for green card applicants.

US Visa Bulletin August 2026: China EB-3 advances 10 days to Jan 1, 2022. India EB-2 and EB-5 remain unavailable. EB-1 India may face unavailability soon.

US District Court clears way for Yemen TPS termination after July 24, 2026. Supreme Court decision in Mullin v. Doe enables DHS to end protections.

Ontario releases full scoring factors for new Workforce Priority stream. Employer requirements, points for employment, education, language, and regionalization. EOI system coming summer 2026.

US citizens get 30-day visa-free entry to Thailand under new July 2026 rules. Complete guide to TDAC, extensions, and staying longer.