USCIS Clarifies The $100,000 H-1B Fee Proclamation

On October 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), published a proposed rule (91 FR 65119; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2026-0529) that would remove...

A federal court’s injunction over the DHS fixed-period admission rule nationwide means the existing duration-of-status (D/S) framework for F-1 international students and J-1 exchange visitors will remain in place while litigation continues.

The U.S. Department of State has released the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, marking the start of fiscal year 2027 with significant changes to employment-based immigrant visa categories. How will the advancement of priority dates, particularly the substantial four-year leap for mainland China-born EB-5 investors in the Dates for Filing chart, impact eligible applicants seeking adjustment of status benefits?

U.S. consulates across India have begun cancelling and automatically rescheduling H-1B and H-4 visa appointments (often 90 to 120 days later)...

The Department of Homeland Security has not issued formal determinations for Temporary Protected Status designations for Ukraine and Sudan despite the October 19, 2026 expiration date, creating uncertainty for employers navigating Form I-9 compliance and employment authorization documentation. USCIS states that affected individuals retain TPS protections and work authorization, but has not updated operational guidance to explain how employers should document continued employment eligibility or handle

As a result of operational constraints related to the enhanced social media vetting of H-1B and H-4 visa applicants that will go into effect on December 15, 2025, U.S. consulates in India have begun automatically...

On Sept. 11, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposed rule that would eliminate the discretionary 60-day grace period currently available to many employment-based nonimmigrants following the termination of their employment.

The U.S. Department of State has temporarily paused immigrant visa interviews worldwide to conduct training programs for consular officers on public charge assessments. This development affects scheduling at U.S. embassies and consulates globally, though it does not mean all immigrant visa applications have been canceled or permanently suspended.

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed imposing fees of $70,000 for initial Optional Practical Training periods and $30,000 for subsequent periods including STEM extensions, with schools bearing the direct cost burden. The proposal aims to combat fraud and abuse within the OPT program while protecting U.S. workers, but could significantly impact international student hiring strategies and the availability of OPT talent for employers.

A federal court has ordered the U.S. government to reopen registration for the 2027 Diversity Visa Lottery after months of delays. Learn about the updated timeline, legal requirements, and how to prepare your application for this critical opportunity to pursue permanent residency in the United States.

On August 25, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is scheduled to publish a proposed rule in the Federal Register that would impose a new $103,265 H-1B fee on every H-1B cap-subject petition.

The Trump Administration has announced that it will not renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) at this time, triggering the agreement’s built-in six-year review process...

A federal court in Massachusetts has postponed the Department of Homeland Security rule that would have ended 'duration of status' admissions for F, J, and I nonimmigrants, originally scheduled to take effect September 15, 2026. This preliminary injunction affects students, exchange visitors, foreign media representatives, and their sponsoring institutions, though the postponement is not a final invalidation of the rule and litigation continues.

On July 24, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit denied the government’s motion to stay the district court judgment that vacated the policy implementing the $100,000 H-1B fee. The administrative stay that reinstated the fee on June 12 is therefore lifted, and the vacatur stands while the government’s appeal proceeds.

he U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled “Improving Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Foreign Nationals...

On January 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it was extending the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)...

On December 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a rule amending federal regulations that govern the process...

As instability spreads across the Middle East amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, including attacks on oil and other key infrastructure across the region, widespread travel and security disruptions...

The Department of Homeland Security has rescinded the 2022 public charge rule, replacing it with a broader, discretionary standard for evaluating whether immigrant visa applicants are likely to become primarily dependent on government assistance. This policy shift, effective September 2026, eliminates previous limitations on which public benefits can be considered and grants immigration officers expanded authority in making public charge determinations that could result in visa denials.

On June 8, 2026, in State of California et al. v. Markwayne Mullin et al., the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts issued a decision, vacating the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policy implementing...