🇺🇸 Work & skilled workers

The U.S. government is preparing to revoke B1 (business) and B2 (tourism) visas for foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum status in the United States. This action will be taken in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to establish a $103,265 fee for all H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption. This proposed fee would be paid at the time of filing and would be in addition to all other applicable fees or payments.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing new regulations for its Genealogy Program to clarify the impact of federal records requirements.

From 1 October 2026: -EOIR will apply the FY 2027 inflation-adjusted OBBBA fees. -The FY 2027 OBBBA fee for an EOIR-26 appeal from an Immigration Judge decision increases from $920 to $950. -After adding the existing $110 EOIR fee, the total becomes $1,060, excluding any applicable biometric fee. -Similar inflation adjustments apply to other OBBBA fees collected by EOIR. -The Annual Asylum Fee uses a different rounding method: its inflation adjustment is rounded down to the nearest dollar rather than the nearest $10.

The Department of Justice proposes a revision and extension of the previously approved information collection for Application for Cancellation of Removal for Certain Permanent Residents (Form EOIR-42A) and Application for Cancellation of Removal and Adjustment of Status for Certain Nonpermanent Residents (Form EOIR-42B). Public comments are requested on this proposed collection.

The effective date of the additional ad valorem duties imposed in Proclamations 11046, 11047, and 11048 is changed from 19 August 2026, to 22 August 2026. This results in a temporary 3-day suspension of these duties.

The law provides approximately $70 billion for DHS, CBP and ICE through FY2029. Major allocations include funding for CBP personnel and immigration-enforcement activities and substantial additional funding for ICE. Importantly, the law does not by itself authorise ICE to remove people who could not otherwise legally be removed. Rather, it provides the agencies with significantly greater financial and operational capacity to enforce existing immigration law.

Only the 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485 will be accepted for submissions postmarked or electronically submitted on or after Sept. 18, 2026. The form has been revised to align with the Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Final Rule.

Executive Order 14419 reaffirms and further details the policy of the United States to promote the integrity of its immigration system and prevent birth tourism. It delegates authority to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue or adopt rules, policies, operational guidance, or other guidance to prevent birth tourism. This includes actions such as preventing entry, denying visas or travel authorisations, revoking visas or travel authorisations, permanently barring entry, and removing aliens engaging in or attempting birth tourism. It also allows for action against entities, organisations, or individuals facilitating birth tourism. The definition of 'birth tourism' is clarified as: (a) the entry of any foreign national into the United States via a nonimmigrant visa for the purpose of giving birth on American soil; or (b) any effort by any foreign national to facilitate the entry of any foreign national into the United States via a nonimmigrant visa for the purpose of giving birth on American soil. Exemptions may be granted on humanitarian grounds or when in the national interest.

Imposition of ad valorem duties on certain Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and UAS components: 100 percent for UAS with a maximum take-off weight of more than 25 kilograms, UAS that integrate thermal imagers, UAS docking stations, and certain critical UAS components (Annex I). 25 percent for UAS with a maximum take-off weight of 25 kilograms or less (Annex II). A 25 percent duty rate on certain UAS components (Annex III) will take effect 180 days from the proclamation date. The Secretary of Commerce is authorised to include additional UAS components within the scope of tariffs on a rolling basis. An incentive programme for companies investing in new U.S. production capacity for UAS and UAS components will be established.

The designation is now automatically extended through 27 November 2026. Existing qualifying TPS beneficiaries do not need to submit a new Form I-821 simply because of this automatic extension. Pending Form I-821 applications also do not need to be refiled. For employment authorisation, certain existing EADs are automatically extended. A beneficiary does not need to file Form I-765 merely to maintain TPS, although eligible beneficiaries can apply for an EAD or an updated physical card if needed.

USCIS now has an additional asylum office location in San Antonio. Applicants should continue to follow the location and instructions stated on their individual USCIS interview notices; the opening does not automatically move every Texas asylum case to San Antonio.

Policy Memoranda PM 602-0192, PM 602-0194, and Policy Alert PA 2025-26 are vacated and should be treated as if they are not in effect.

The U.S. Department of State has ended the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agenda, eliminating DEI ideology from Foreign Service training and other personnel materials. This restores merit, rigor, and accountability, refocusing training on practical diplomatic skills. Content such as specific DEI reading lists, promotion metrics, toolkits (including 'white privilege' and 'systemic racism' discussions), vocabulary instructions (e.g., avoiding 'illegal alien'), 'Inclusivity Guides' (e.g., promoting 'non-binary pronouns'), and dedicated DEI instruction days have been removed.

USCIS may now mandate electronic filing for any immigration form that has been available for e-filing for at least 180 days. Filers will be required to use an online account to submit forms and evidence. USCIS will notify the public at least 60 days before making e-filing mandatory for a specific form.

This interim final rule (IFR) specifies the procedures for adjudicating alleged violations of the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005 (IMBRA) by international marriage brokers (IMBs) doing business in the United States. It covers cases where an IMB fails to provide required information or improperly discloses prohibited information, allowing civil penalties to be pursued through a defined DOJ/EOIR adjudication process.

The Department of Justice is adopting a new process for interested persons to submit petitions requesting that the Department issue, amend, or repeal a rule. This rule is effective 31 July 2026, and is codified under 28 CFR 50. It establishes procedures for general provisions, requirements and recommendations for submitting petitions, and internal Department processing and procedures for these petitions.

The designation of Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is automatically extended for six months, effective from 28 May 2026, through 27 November 2026. This automatic extension applies to existing TPS beneficiaries who continue to meet eligibility requirements. The validity of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) previously issued under Lebanon's TPS designation is automatically extended for this period. Registration is not required for this automatic six-month extension.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) proposes to reinstate, with changes, the previously approved information collection titled "Alien Change of Address." This proposal requires individuals subject to registration and change of address reporting requirements under INA section 265, 8 U.S.C. 1305, to report additional information when notifying USCIS of a change of address. The new information to be collected includes details pertaining to their receipt of any means-tested public benefits, as well as information related to their employment and schooling.

Current rules for this policy, plus every recorded change.

Current rules for this policy, plus every recorded change.

Current rules for this policy, plus every recorded change.

Current rules for this policy, plus every recorded change.

Current rules for this policy, plus every recorded change.