Headlines: DHS to Raise Premium Processing Fees – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is raising premium processing fees effective March 1, 2026. DOL, DHS Announce Additional 35,000 Visas to Supplement FY 2026 H-2B Cap – The agencies said they will focus these additional H-2B visas on U.S. businesses with seasonal or temporary workforce needs in […]
Headlines: OFLC Reminds Stakeholders of H-2B Filing Timeline for 2026 Peak Filing Season – The Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification reminded employers and other interested stakeholders that the filing window to submit an H-2B application requesting work start dates of April 1, 2026, or later, opened on January 1, 2026. DOS Issues […]
Headlines: DHS Finalizes H-1B ‘Weighted Selection’ Rule Without Changes – Under the new process, instead of a random lottery, registrations for unique beneficiaries or petitions will be assigned to the relevant Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics wage level and entered into the selection pool on a weighted basis according to those levels. Multiple States Support […]
Headlines: President Expands Full and Partial Travel Ban List – President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation expanding travel restrictions. The new proclamation applies to individuals who are outside of the United States as of January 1, 2026, and do not have a valid visa. President Suspends Diversity Visa Program After Shootings –President Trump suspended the […]
Headlines: Holiday Travel Alert: Visa Appointments Disrupted; Revocation Trends – Recent developments affecting H-1B and H-4 travelers and visa holders, and others, this winter include visa appointment disruptions tied to expanded screening and an increase in visa revocation notices reportedly linked to prior arrest history. USCIS Limits Age and Type of Photos for Many Applications […]
Headlines: DOS Expands Social Media Vetting to H-1B and H-4 Visa Applicants – This newest expansion of the government’s online presence screening practices for foreign nationals applies to both new visa applications and renewals. USCIS Reduces Maximum Validity Period for Some Work Permits – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has reduced the maximum validity period […]
Headlines: Trump Vows Crackdown After National Guard Shootings – After an Afghan asylum recipient shot two National Guardsmen in the District of Columbia, President Trump called for a halt to asylum decisions, a “permanent pause” on “migration from all Third World Countries,” and an indefinite pause on visas for Afghan nationals, along with reviewing those […]
Headlines: USCIS, CBP, ICE Announce New ‘Inflationary Adjustments’ for Certain Fees – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced increases in fees for certain benefits for Fiscal Year 2026. USCIS Now Accepting Only Electronic Payments for Benefit Requests, With Exceptions – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration […]
Headlines: Shutdown Aftermath: Visa Services Resume, Delays Expected – Routine visa services have resumed after the federal government shutdown was ended after a record 43 days. Federal funding has been extended until January 30, 2026, but delays and backlogs remain. DOS Expands Public Charge Exclusions, Encourages Visa Officers to Speculate – The Department of State […]
Headlines: OFLC Resumes Application Processing; Delays Expected – The Office of Foreign Labor Certification has resumed processing of employer requests for prevailing wages and labor certification determinations for temporary and permanent employment in the United States. OFLC Announces Extensions and Emergency Procedures in Light of Shutdown – Due to the federal government shutdown, the Office […]
