Immigration News 📰
Curated immigration updates
Key policy changes, USCIS announcements, and court news affecting your status.
PolicyAugust 2026
Reported Proposal Could Add $100,000 Fee for International Student Work Authorization
The administration is reportedly considering a $100,000 fee tied to Optional Practical Training (OPT...
PolicyJuly 30, 2026
State Department Proposes Changes to J-1 Sponsor Termination Rules
On July 30, 2026, the Department of State published a proposed rule that would expand and clarify th...
PolicyJuly 22, 2026
State Department Tests Paid Expedited B-Visa Appointments in Mexico
The Department of State is testing a voluntary pilot that allows eligible B-1/B-2 visa applicants to...
Immigration CourtsJuly 28, 2026
New Rule: USCIS May Refer Some Asylum Cases to Court Without an Interview
Effective July 28, 2026, an interim final rule allows USCIS asylum officers to refer certain affirma...
PolicyJuly 2026
Proposed Rule Could Raise Naturalization Fees; Comments Due August 24
A proposed DHS rule could significantly increase naturalization (N-400) fees and eliminate reduced-f...
PolicyJuly 8, 2026
USCIS Opens Atlanta Asylum Office
Effective July 8, 2026, USCIS opened an asylum office in Atlanta conducting affirmative asylum inter...
PolicyJuly 2026
USCIS Clarifies CSPA Age Calculation
USCIS issued policy guidance clarifying when an immigrant visa is considered "available" for calcula...
Visa BulletinJuly 15, 2026
August 2026 Visa Bulletin: F2A Advances; EB-2 India and EB-5 Unreserved India Remain Unavailable
The Department of State's August 2026 Visa Bulletin advances the F2A Final Action Date by about 18 m...
H-1BJuly 2026
FY 2027 H-1B Cap Reached
USCIS has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B regular cap an...
PolicyJuly 16, 2026
New Public Charge Rule Takes Effect September 18, 2026
Following the July 2026 rescission of the 2022 regulation, a new federal rule effective September 18...
PolicyJuly 2026
State Department to Centralize Visa Processing at African Posts
Beginning August 1, 2026, the Department of State will shift routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa...
Immigration CourtsJuly 21, 2026
Federal Court Partially Stays USCIS Policies Under the 2025 Reconciliation Act
On July 21, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted in part an emerg...
Visa BulletinJune 10, 2026
July 2026 Visa Bulletin — EB-1 India Retrogresses; EB-2 & EB-5 India Unavailable
The July 2026 Visa Bulletin shows a split picture. Family categories advanced (F1 to Feb 1, 2018). E...
🚨 ACTION MAY BE REQUIRED
H-1BJune 8, 2026
$100,000 H-1B Supplemental Fee Struck Down — But Still Being Collected
On June 8, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts vacated the $100,000 supp...
🚨 ACTION MAY BE REQUIRED
Travel BanJune 5, 2026
Federal Court Vacates USCIS "Benefits Hold" for 39 Travel-Ban Countries — Appeal Pending
On June 5, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island in Dorcas International In...
EADJune 5, 2026
DHS Proposes Restrictions on Discretionary EADs — Comments Due August 4
On June 5, 2026, DHS published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (docket USCIS-2026-0067) restricting ...
🚨 ACTION MAY BE REQUIRED
PolicyMay 25, 2026
USCIS: Adjustment of Status Now "Extraordinary" — What I-485 Filers Should Know
On May 21, 2026, USCIS issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199, instructing officers to treat I-485 adj...
Processing TimesMay 2026
I-485 Adjustment of Status Delays Continue
USCIS processing time data shows continued delays for I-485 adjustment of status applications, avera...
VettingMay 2026
Foreign Physicians Exempted from Vetting Hold
In early May 2026, USCIS quietly lifted adjudication holds for cases involving foreign physicians. T...
EmployersMay 2026
ICE Tightens I-9 Audit Standards — More Substantive Violations
In May 2026, ICE revised its I-9 fact sheet reclassifying certain previously-correctable technical e...
🚨 ACTION MAY BE REQUIRED
VettingApril 27, 2026
USCIS Fingerprint Re-Vetting Freezes ~11.6 Million Pending Cases
Effective April 27, 2026, USCIS implemented enhanced FBI fingerprint-based background checks under E...
🚨 ACTION MAY BE REQUIRED
TPSApril 13, 2026
TPS Terminations Proceed for Burma, Ethiopia, and South Sudan
USCIS released termination guidance for Temporary Protected Status designations for Burma (April 13)...
VettingMarch 30, 2026
State Department Expands Social Media Vetting
The Department of State expanded online presence review to additional nonimmigrant visa classificati...
🚨 ACTION MAY BE REQUIRED
Immigration CourtsMarch 5, 2026
EOIR Reschedules Thousands of Administratively Closed Cases
Since May 2025, EOIR has been rescheduling immigration court cases that had been administratively cl...
FeesMarch 1, 2026
Premium Processing Fees Increased to $2,965
USCIS premium processing fees increased March 1, 2026. Form I-129 (H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, E-3): $2,965 ...
EADFebruary 2026
EAD Validity Periods Reduced to 18 Months
USCIS reduced the maximum validity period for many Employment Authorization Documents from 24 months...
CitizenshipOctober 20, 2025
2025 Naturalization Civics Test in Effect
USCIS implemented the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test for all N-400 applications filed on or after O...
How does this news affect you?
Rathee Law Firm can help you understand how recent changes impact your specific immigration case.
Book a ConsultationNews summaries are written by Rathee Law Firm based on public announcements from USCIS, the Department of State, and other agencies. Always verify at official .gov websites before taking action.
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