United States

What changed

The United States government plans to revoke B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourism) visas for up to 200,000 people. These people have applied for or are now seeking asylum in the United States. The Department of State, working with the Department of Homeland Security, will announce this plan soon. This action will not lead to immediate deportation. But, people affected will lose their status as short-term visitors.

What changed

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wants to add a fee of $103,265 for all H-1B cap-subject petitions. This includes petitions for people with advanced degrees that are exempt from the usual cap. This new fee was announced on 24 August 2026. You would pay it when you file the petition, along with other fees you already pay. DHS believes this fee will raise about $8.8 billion each year. This money would help cover the federal government's costs to run the legal immigration system. The fee will apply to employers and people who file H-1B cap-subject petitions. It will not apply to petitions that are not subject to the cap. Examples include petitions from non-profit research groups and universities, which are exempt.

What changed

The United States Federal Register has published a rule from the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). It is called 'Inflation Adjustment for EOIR OBBBA Fees; Fiscal Year 2027'. This rule came out on 21 August 2026. It is about changes to the fees for the Board of Immigration Appeals and Board of Alien Appeals (OBBBA) for the next financial year. This document (91 FR 54211) is now an official publication. This is different from earlier Federal Register content that called the website an unofficial test version.

What changed

A federal judge in Manhattan has cancelled the Trump administration's ban on immigrant visas for people from 75 countries. The judge said the ban was 'contrary to law'. The United States (US) Department of State had stopped issuing immigrant visas to people from these countries. These countries included Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Haiti, Somalia, and Russia. The department was worried that these people would use public benefits. This ruling came out on Friday. It changes any visa denials that happened only because of this specific policy. It confirms that the government must look at each person individually to decide if they are likely to need public benefits. This decision must consider their money, age, health, skills, and family situation, not just their country of origin.

What changed

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a proposed rule. It is called 'Genealogy Program Regulations To Clarify the Impact of Federal Records Requirements'. This rule appeared in the Federal Register on 21 August 2026. The proposed rule explains how federal records requirements affect the Genealogy Program. People can send written comments about this proposal. The deadline is 20 October 2026. The rule's agency and docket number is USCIS-2026-0331. Its Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) reference is 8 CFR 103.

What changed

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published a Proposed Rule in the Federal Register on 20 August 2026. This rule states that the refunded part of specific individual refundable income tax credits are 'Federal public benefits'. These credits include the Adoption Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, American Opportunity Tax Credit, Earned Income Credit, Premium Tax Credit, and Saver's Match. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) defines these benefits. The proposal also explains what the 'refunded part' means. It sets rules for checking a person's alien status. It deals with joint tax returns where some people are subject to PRWORA rules. It also includes a rule for people to confirm their own eligibility. The public can comment on this Proposed Rule until 5 October 2026.