The U.S. Department of State has released the May 2026 Visa Bulletin, and several family‑based and employment‑based categories continue to advance. Applicants with long‑pending priority dates may see new opportunities to move forward with immigrant visa processing or adjustment of status. Significant Updates Family‑Sponsored Categories F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents) Final Action Dates advance to August 1, 2024 for most countries and August 1, 2023 for Mexic

The U.S. Department of State has released the April 2026 Visa Bulletin, and several key immigrant visa categories have advanced—creating new opportunities for both family‑based and employment‑based applicants. Significant Updates Family‑Based (F2A): Spouses and unmarried children of permanent residents continue to benefit from Current Dates for Filing and favorable Final Action Dates. Many applicants can move forward immediately. Employment‑Based (EB‑1 & EB‑3): EB‑1 for India

After nearly seven years, direct passenger and cargo flights between the United States and Venezuela are set to resume. The U.S. government has formally rescinded the 2019 suspension that halted commercial air service between the two countries, marking a significant shift in travel and mobility policy. What Changed The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a notice—retroactively effective April 15, 2026—officially lifting the 2019 flight suspension. This action follows

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has released its long‑awaited proposed rule to overhaul the methodology used to calculate prevailing wages for the H‑1B, H‑1B1, E‑3, and PERM programs. If finalized, the rule would represent the most significant wage‑setting change in more than two decades and would substantially increase required wages for employers sponsoring foreign workers. What the Rule Proposes The proposal raises all four prevailing wage levels by shifting each to a h

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 1, 2026, in Trump v. Barbara, a landmark case challenging the administration’s attempt to end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented or temporary foreign nationals. What the Executive Order Would Do The executive order at issue would bar U.S. citizenship for children born to parents in temporary visa categories—including F‑1 students, J‑1 exchange visitors, H‑1B specialty workers, and

The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program and E‑Verify—both administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)—have released updated guidance on the validity of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS). These updates, issued between March 24 and April 10, 2026, supersede earlier termination‑related notices and reflect the impact of ongoing court orders affecting TPS designations. Why

ICE’s New I‑9 Inspection Policy Significantly Raises Employer Risk U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has released a new fact sheet—Form I‑9 Inspection Under Immigration and Nationality Act § 274A—that quietly but substantially reshapes the compliance landscape for employers. The update reclassifies several errors that were once considered “technical” as substantive violations, increasing the likelihood of monetary penalties during an I‑9 audit. Key Changes Employ

The U.S. Department of Labor released a long-anticipated proposed rule on March 27, 2026, that could significantly reshape prevailing wage requirements across key employment-based immigration programs, including H-1B, H-1B1, E-3, and PERM labor certifications. Titled “Improving Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Foreign Nationals in the United States,” the proposal seeks to revise how prevailing wages are calculated for both Labor Conditio

USCIS has announced that the statutory cap for H-2B temporary non-agricultural worker visas for the second half of Fiscal Year 2026 has been reached. March 10, 2026 was confirmed as the final receipt date for petitions subject to the cap and USCIS will reject H-2B petitions received after March 10 that request a start date on or after April 1, 2026 and before October 1, 2026, unless the petition is exempt from the H-2B cap. Availability remains for supplemental H-2B visa nu

A bipartisan bill titled the “Keep Innovators in America Act” (H.R. 8013) has been introduced in Congress with the aim of formally codifying the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program into statute. The proposal reflects growing recognition of the economic contributions made by international graduates and the need for predictable post-study work authorization frameworks. If enacted, the legislation could provide greater stability for students navigating career transitio