IMMIGRATION ALERTS

USCIS reinstates public-charge test from September 2026. Green Card applicants must prove self-sufficiency. Age, health, income, and benefit usage now heavily scrutinized.

USCIS confirms H-1B cap reached for FY 2027 with no second lottery. Weighted system selects 40.2% of 211,600 registrations, boosting high-wage and U.S. advanced degree holders.

USCIS extends TPS EAD validity for seven countries through July 2026. New I-9 guidance: "as per court order" in Section 1, applicable dates in Section 2.

DHS finalizes rule ending "Duration of Status" for F-1, J-1, and I visas. Fixed 4-year admission periods, 30-day grace period, and USCIS extension requirements.

US to close visa processing in Botswana from August 1, 2026. All visa applications to be handled in Johannesburg, South Africa. Full details inside.

DOL reports 143,235 H-2B workers certified, 10,335 cases finalized for FY 2026 second half. PWD processing updates and July filing window results.

USCIS opens new Atlanta Asylum Office for Alabama and Georgia applicants. Interviews began July 8, 2026. Temporary locations, permanent office expected 2027.

US visa suspension in UAE July 2026: U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi and Consulate Dubai cancel all visa appointments amid regional crisis. Hundreds affected.

CDC extends Ebola entry ban to August 12, 2026. Foreign nationals from DR Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan within 21 days cannot enter U.S. Exemptions for citizens and LPRs.

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.