Policy Updates
Immigration policy changes from the Federal Register, explained in plain language.
USCIS Can Now Reject Your Petition Later If It Lacks a Valid Signature
Starting July 10, 2026, USCIS has new authority to reject or deny any immigration benefit request — even one it already accepted — if it later finds the signature is missing or invalid. This interim final rule closes a gap that let unsigned petitions slip through intake. If you've filed recently or plan to file, double-checking your signature could save your case.
EB-2 Priority Dates in FY2026: Three Divergent Tracks, One Structural Cause
Seven months into fiscal year 2026, EB-2 priority date movement has split into three distinct trajectories. Rest of World went from backlogged to current. India advanced 15 months of priority dates — the fastest pace in years. China barely moved. All three outcomes trace to the same policy: the 75-country immigrant visa freeze.
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.
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.
DOL Proposes Higher H-1B and PERM Wages — What Workers and Employers Need to Know
The Department of Labor wants to raise the minimum wages employers must pay H-1B, H-1B1, E-3, and PERM-sponsored workers — potentially the biggest prevailing wage overhaul in years. The goal: stop companies from using visa programs to undercut American workers with cheaper foreign labor. If finalized, this rule could raise costs for thousands of employers and reshape how H-1B salaries are set.
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.