Policy Updates

October 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 and EB-3 Rest of World Retrogress, EB-2 India Reopens

The first bulletin of fiscal year 2027 ends current EB-2 for most countries, moving its final action date to January 1, 2025, and pulls EB-3 Rest of World back to May 15, 2024. EB-2 India reopens and EB-1 India advances. USCIS is accepting October employment-based I-485s under the Dates for Filing chart.

USCIS Opens Dates for Filing Chart for October 2026 Employment-Based Green Card Applications

USCIS will accept employment-based I-485s in October 2026 under the Dates for Filing chart. EB-2 Rest of World applicants with priority dates before March 15, 2026 can file, even though final action retrogressed to January 1, 2025.

USCIS Sets September 2026 Green Card Filing Rules — EB Applicants Face Tighter Chart

USCIS has announced which visa bulletin charts to use for adjustment of status applications in September 2026. Employment-based applicants must use the stricter Final Action Dates chart, while family-sponsored applicants get access to the more permissive Dates for Filing chart. If you're waiting to file your I-485, this distinction could determine whether you can file at all this month.

Federal Court Strikes Down State Dept Ban on Immigrant Visas from 75 Countries

A federal judge in New York has vacated a sweeping Trump administration policy that blocked immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries — covering nearly 40% of the world's nations. The ruling, published August 21, 2026, found Secretary of State Rubio exceeded his legal authority. If you or a family member was denied an immigrant visa under this ban, this ruling matters directly to you.

Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump's 75-Country Visa Ban — What It Means for You

A federal judge has vacated the Trump administration's sweeping pause on visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, ruling it illegal under existing immigration law. The Hill reported the decision, handed down August 22, 2026, finding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his authority. If you're from one of the affected countries, this ruling could reopen a path that's been blocked since January.

USCIS Tightens Green Card Rules: Broader Public Charge Test Takes Effect Sept. 18

Starting September 18, USCIS officers will apply a wider, more discretionary standard when deciding whether green card applicants could become reliant on government benefits — and they can even consider a U.S. citizen family member's benefit usage against you. The Hill reported on the change, which replaces the Biden-era 2022 framework with a five-factor case-by-case review. If you're on a path to a green card through an H-1B or family petition, this is a shift you need to understand now.

USCIS Drops New I-485 Form Sept. 18 — Old Versions Rejected Immediately

If you're applying for a green card, your form has an expiration date. USCIS is releasing a new edition of Form I-485 on September 18, 2026 — and old versions will be rejected on the spot, with zero grace period. Here's what that means if you're planning to file soon.

USCIS Now Has Power to Force Online Filing — What H-1B and F-1 Filers Must Know

USCIS just gained the authority to mandate electronic filing for any immigration form that's been online-eligible for at least 6 months — and paper submissions could soon be off the table. The rule took effect August 11, 2026, with a 60-day public notice required before any specific form goes mandatory. If you file immigration paperwork of any kind, your process is about to change.

USCIS Can Now Deny Your Case Without Warning — No RFE Required

USCIS has quietly updated its rules in a way that could blindside visa applicants: officers can now reject your petition outright if evidence is missing, without first giving you a chance to fix it. The American Immigration Lawyers Association flagged the change on August 5, 2026. Here's what H-1B workers, F-1 students, and anyone with a pending immigration benefit request needs to know.

April 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 Returns to Current, EB-2 India Advances Ten Months

The April 2026 Visa Bulletin brings material forward movement, with EB-2 returning to 'Current' for most countries and advancing nearly a year for India backlog. EB-3 also sees notable advancement for non-oversubscribed chargeability areas.

Chinese H-1B Candidates Face Compounding Pressures as Weighted Lottery, $100K Fee, and Stalled Green Cards Converge

Chinese nationals — the second-largest H-1B population at roughly 12% of approved petitions — are navigating a convergence of policy shifts: a new wage-weighted lottery that disadvantages recent graduates, a $100,000 employer fee, stalled employment-based green card dates, and heightened consular scrutiny. The combined effect is reshaping the calculus for Chinese STEM professionals considering or already in the U.S. immigration pipeline.

2 reports · One policy timeline

USCIS Raises Premium Processing Fees March 1, 2026 to Keep Pace with Inflation

USCIS is increasing its premium processing fees effective March 1, 2026, adjusting for inflation from June 2023 through June 2025. The fee hike follows a congressionally mandated biennial adjustment tied to the Consumer Price Index. Anyone filing Form I-907 on or after March 1 must use the new, higher fees.