September 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2, EB-1 India, and EB-5 Unreserved at Risk of Unavailability : Employer Action Plan Before October 1
The U.S. Department of State has issued the September 2026 Visa Bulletin, the final bulletin for fiscal year 2026. The bulletin confirms that several employment-based immigrant visa categories face significant number limitations before the fiscal year ends on September 30, 2026. The Department warns that EB-1 India, EB-2, and EB-5 Unreserved may retrogress or become […]
USCIS Form I-539 and I-765 New Editions Effective September 15, 2026: No Grace Period : What Applicants and Employers Must Do Now
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will require new editions of Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, beginning September 15, 2026. The new forms will carry the edition date 09/15/26. USCIS will replace the current 08/28/24 edition of Form I-539 and the 08/21/25 edition of Form I-765. […]
L-1 Visa 2026: New USCIS Evidence Rules and the September 9 Biometric Fee Expansion : What Multinational Employers Must Know
Updated September 1, 2026 The L-1 visa remains a central pathway for multinational companies transferring managers, executives, and specialized-knowledge employees to the United States. In 2026, employers must address two significant developments: USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-05, effective August 5, 2026, restores USCIS discretion to deny deficient petitions without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) […]
L-1 Intracompany Transfer Visa in 2026: Eligibility, Evidence Requirements, and Compliance for Employers
The L-1 visa permits a qualifying multinational organization to transfer certain employees from a foreign office to a related U.S. entity. The classification is available to executives, managers, and employees with specialized knowledge. In 2026, employers must prepare L-1 petitions with greater evidentiary precision. USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-05, effective August 5, 2026, permits USCIS to […]
H-4 EAD Work Permits at Risk in 2026: DHS Proposal to End Employment Authorization for H-1B Spouses : What Families and Employers Must Know
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has placed a proposed rule identified as RIN 1615-AD14, titled “Removing H-4 Dependent Spouses from the Classes of Noncitizens Eligible for Employment Authorization,” on its long-term regulatory agenda. If finalized, the proposal would reverse the 2015 regulation that created employment authorization eligibility for certain H-4 spouses of H-1B workers. […]
DHS Expands 9-11 Biometric Fee to H-1B and L-1 Extension Petitions: Compliance Guide for Covered Employers Effective September 9, 2026
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expanded the scope of the 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee for certain H-1B and L-1 petitions. Under the final rule published at 91 Federal Register 51360, the fee will apply to all covered-employer extension-of-stay petitions, including extensions filed by the same employer for the same employee. The […]
September 2026 Visa Bulletin: Major Advancements for Family-Based Green Cards : What Spouses, Children, and Parents Must Know
The September 2026 Visa Bulletin contains substantial forward movement in nearly every family-sponsored preference category. The Department of State published the bulletin in August 2026, and USCIS has instructed family-sponsored adjustment-of-status applicants to use the Dates for Filing chart during September. The movement affects family-based green card applicants in the F1, F2A, F2B, F3, and […]
State Department Pauses Immigrant Visa Interviews Worldwide: What Green Card Applicants Must Know in 2026
As of August 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of State has paused immigrant visa interviews at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. The pause began on August 25, 2026, while consular officers complete training on expanded public charge screening. This action affects applicants completing the green card process outside the United States. It does not apply […]
Proposed $103,265 H-1B Fee in 2026: What Employers Need to Know Before Planning FY 2028
On August 25, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposed rule that would impose a $103,265 fee for each covered H-1B cap-subject petition. The proposal appears in the Federal Register as Fee for Certain H-1B Petitions, Federal Register document 2026-17324. This proposal is not final. It is not currently payable. Employers should […]
H-1B Visa 2026: What U.S. Employers and Foreign Workers Should Know
The H-1B visa 2026 process includes important changes to registration, selection, wage-level reporting, and employer compliance. The process also requires careful coordination among the employer, foreign worker, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). For calendar year 2026, employers are primarily dealing with the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 H-1B […]
