US Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump-Era Immigrant Visa Ban Affecting 75 Countries

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 Trump administration proposed a new rule. This rule would officially set the H-1B work visa fee at $103,265 for each application in the United States (US). This proposal was published in the US Federal Register. Last year, a temporary fee of $100,000 was put in place. Courts blocked this temporary fee, and it will end in September. If this new rule becomes final after a 30-day public comment period, it will greatly increase the cost of H-1B visas. H-1B visa fees historically cost between $2,000 and $5,000. This change would affect foreign workers and employers in areas like technology, education, and research.

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 Department of Justice, through the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), has updated many immigration-related fees. This is for the financial year 2027. The `One Big Beautiful Bill Act` (OBBBA) says these changes must happen. The update increases the OBBBA part of these fees by 3.4%. This percentage comes from the `Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers`. As a result, the total cost for many forms and motions will go up. This includes appeals and requests to cancel a removal order. For example, Forms EOIR-26 and EOIR-29 will now cost an estimated £1,060, up from £1,030. You must pay these new fee amounts for all relevant documents filed with the Immigration Courts or the Board of Immigration Appeals on or after 1 October 2026.