Continuing to Protect the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship

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

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 Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has announced that some immigration fees will change. These changes start on 1 October 2026. This is for the 2027 financial year. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) says these changes must happen. The fees for many applications, motions, and appeals sent to the Immigration Courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals will go up. For example, the total fee for Form EOIR-26 will go from $1,030 to $1,060. This form is a Notice of Appeal from a Decision of an Immigration Judge. Form EOIR-42B will go from $1,640 to $1,690. This form is an Application for Cancellation of Removal and Adjustment of Status for Certain Nonpermanent Residents. The fees are changing because of inflation. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) went up by 3.4 per cent between July 2025 and July 2026.