Fees, forms, rules and court cases from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, explained the day they change.
DHS proposed ending USCIS’s requirement to defer to prior eligibility decisions on covered Form I-129 extensions, including H-1B petitions; the current rule remains in effect during comments.
Matching bills would raise the H-1B-dependent employer salary threshold from $60,000 to about $145,600, potentially affecting tens of thousands of certified filings.
USCIS’s FY 2027 inflation adjustments raised four H.R. 1 immigration fees for covered requests postmarked on or after October 16, 2026.
Minnesota and other states urged an appeals court to block the end of Somalia’s TPS designation while recipients challenge the termination.
Columbia spent $200,000 lobbying in the third quarter, including against H-1B fees, as a federal judge blocked the fee rule again.
The Labor Department suspended new and pending PERM processing for Microsoft and seven other employers while federal investigations continue.
USCIS alerts say Ukrainian and Sudanese TPS beneficiaries retain protection and work authorization while DHS delays a decision, despite country pages still listing October 19 expiration dates.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged other states to copy Florida’s existing restriction on new H-1B hires at public universities; no new Florida restriction was announced.
DHS’s final rule ended automatic EAD extensions for affected renewal applicants, including H-4 spouses, effective October 14, 2026.
A report warned that Trump administration H-1B restrictions could weaken U.S.-India ties, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the changes are global, not India-focused.
Immigration lawyers warned H-1B employers and workers that USCIS may use AI to flag mismatches between address filings and worksite records, but no new rule was announced.
Infosys, TCS and Cognizant sharply reduced FY2027 H-1B registrations as a new wage-weighted selection system and employer costs took effect or were proposed.
More than 12,000 Indian tech professionals have left the U.S. amid layoffs and visa uncertainty as DHS considers ending the 60-day grace period for H-1B workers.
Rep. David Schweikert introduced H.R. 10460, a bill proposing changes to H-1B selection, employment-based green cards, family immigration and the Diversity Visa program.
Microsoft president Brad Smith criticized the administration’s announced PERM sponsorship restrictions, warning they could push skilled workers and AI talent abroad.
USCIS updated fees for specified asylum, parole, and TPS-related filings, with the new amounts applying to requests postmarked October 16, 2026, or later.
USCIS launched a campaign inviting anonymous tips and evidence about suspected immigration fraud and abuse.
The DOL OIG is intensifying H-1B fraud investigations as complaints rise, while employers face potential audits, site visits, and records requests.
The Labor Department suspended Cognizant and other companies from PERM filings, barring new and pending applications amid allegations of visa-program abuse.
USCIS denied H-1B petitions and revoked approvals tied to an unnamed Vermont IT consulting firm over alleged wage misclassification.
DHS proposed a $103,265 fee for H-1B cap-subject petitions as a December 11 funding deadline could affect some immigration processing.
USCIS launched a dedicated R-1 resource page organizing Form I-129 filing guidance, evidence requirements, extension information, and case-question routing.
USCIS will reject filings using outdated editions of two forms beginning September 15, 2026, with no grace period.
USCIS extended work authorization for eligible Salvadoran TPS recipients with pending renewals, and existing protections and work permits remain active for now.
DHS’s proposal to eliminate the 60-day grace period for H-1B and other nonimmigrant workers cleared White House review but remains unpublished.
DHS will require covered employers to pay $4,000 H-1B and $4,500 L-1 surcharges on extension petitions starting September 9, 2026.
USCIS ended 2025 with 11.3 million pending cases as lower completion rates and adjudication holds added to processing delays.
USCIS resumed processing benefits for nationals of 39 countries after a federal court overturned policies freezing their applications.
