Rule changes, fee decisions, court rulings and processing shifts, logged as they happen with the primary source attached. Written for journalists on deadline.
Federal regulators propose $70,000 for initial Optional Practical Training and $30,000 for each subsequent OPT period. F-1 nonimmigrant students would pay these fees through Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified institutions. The proposal aims to strengthen program integrity and prevent fraud.
DHS is announcing inflation-adjusted fee amounts for FY 2027, effective Oct. 1, 2026, for ESTA, EVUS, and the parole program; the Form I-94 fee remains unchanged. The new amounts apply to travelers seeking ESTA, visa holders updating EVUS records, and those seeking parole. Affected users should verify the new fee amounts before traveling or applying.
USCIS announced inflation-adjusted fees for fiscal year 2027 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), which mandates annual adjustments. The adjusted amounts apply to immigration-related filings with USCIS effective in FY 2027.
USCIS has finalized a rule adjusting fees for EB-5 immigrant investor visa petitions, implementing provisions of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 and new statutory requirements. The rule responds to public comments on the proposed fee adjustment announced in October 2025. EB-5 investors and their counsel should review the updated fee schedule.
USCIS is adjusting fees for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program to fully recover program operating costs and fund integrity measures such as audits and site visits. EB-5 investors will pay new fees on applications filed on or after Nov. 30, 2026. The adjustment finalizes a proposed rule from October 2025.
The White House issued an executive order on September 18, 2026, directing enhanced program integrity measures and interagency coordination in H-1B visa administration. The order addresses how the H-1B program is managed and administered. H-1B employers and workers should monitor for implementation guidance from DHS, DOL, and the State Department.
White House issues a proclamation restricting entry of certain H-1B nonimmigrant workers. The new proclamation references Proclamation 10973 from September 2025, which the administration issued to address significant abuses in the H-1B visa program. Employers and workers in the H-1B category should confirm the specific provisions and effective date of the new proclamation.
USCIS has incorporated policy guidance on the public charge ground of inadmissibility into Policy Manual Volume 8, implementing the Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Final Rule finalized July 20, 2026. The guidance became effective September 18, 2026. The update affects applicants for visas, green cards, and adjustment of status.
DHS amended regulations to permit children born in the United States to foreign government employees (who are not U.S. citizens) to register for permanent residence. This correction notice restores regulatory language that was accidentally omitted from the interim final rule published September 9, 2026. Forms I-485 and G-325R were updated accordingly.
USCIS announced it has received enough H-2B petitions to meet the congressionally established cap for the first half of fiscal year 2027. The final receipt date for cap-subject H-2B petitions with employment start dates before April 1, 2027, was Sept. 4, 2026. USCIS will reject any new cap-subject H-2B petitions filed after that date for the specified employment period.
DHS proposes removing regulations that provide a 60-day grace period for certain nonimmigrant visa holders and dependents upon employment cessation or status expiration. The proposed rule would require workers to maintain active employment status or depart immediately, eliminating the current window for employment transitions or visa status transfers.
USCIS amended regulations to allow children born in the United States to foreign government employees (who are not U.S. citizens) to register for permanent residence. Corresponding changes were made to Forms I-485 and G-325R to implement the policy.
In Medani v. Trump, the Northern District of California temporarily vacated PM-602-0193 and ordered USCIS to resume ordinary adjudication of pending DV-2026 adjustment of status applications. The court also certified a subclass of FY-2026 Diversity Visa selectees affected by the hold; USCIS says it will follow the order pending further review.
Complying with an August 26 order in United Farm Workers v. DOL, the Department of Labor gave public notice that certain H-2A employers may be required to make back wage adjustment payments under the Adverse Effect Wage Rate interim final rule. DOL says it may still seek further review of the order.
The rule allows USCIS to require electronic filing for certain immigration forms. Paper filers and applicants without counsel are the population to watch.
Officers can now set response deadlines case by case instead of the standard twelve weeks, and the extra fourteen days for notices mailed abroad is gone, replaced by three days for all mailed notices.
Policy Alert PA-2026-05 lets officers deny benefit requests that lack required initial evidence without a Request for Evidence or Notice of Intent to Deny. It took effect immediately and applies to pending cases too.
The First Circuit declined to block the Massachusetts district court decision vacating the fee, so USCIS is barred from collecting it while the case continues.
Several consular posts stopped offering routine visa services on August 1, consolidating appointments into regional hubs. Expect longer travel and wait times for applicants in the affected countries.
The District of Rhode Island struck down four USCIS policies that had paused processing for people from 39 countries covered by the presidential travel ban. Employment authorization and green card cases can move again.
