- A federal district court has struck down the $100,000 fee the Trump Administration imposed on certain H-1B petitions.
- The court ruling could allow affected beneficiaries of approved H-1B petitions obtain visas and travel to the U.S. without having to pay the exorbitant fee.
- The government is expected to consider appellate options, and employers should
US Immigration
Federal Court Vacates USCIS Adjudication Pause Affecting Nationals of 39 Countries
- A federal district court has vacated USCIS policies that paused adjudication of immigration benefit requests filed by nationals of 39 countries.
- The court ruling could allow affected adjustment of status, employment authorization, naturalization, and certain asylum-related applications to proceed.
- The government is expected to consider appellate options, and employers should continue to monitor developments.
USCIS Reversal of Immigration Benefits Pause: Will ‘Medical Physicians’ Benefit?
Physicians from countries subject to the Trump Administration’s immigration benefits pause received sudden but quiet good news on April 30, 2026. USCIS updated its “Strengthened Screening and Vetting” policy alert without any announcement, adding the category of “applications associated with medical physicians” to the list of cases whose adjudication holds may be lifted.
This policy…
Adjustment of Status Under Scrutiny: USCIS Moves Toward Stricter Discretionary Review
- A new USCIS policy memorandum emphasizes that adjustment of status is a discretionary benefit and that consular processing abroad is the “ordinary” pathway to permanent residence.
- The memo does not eliminate employment-based adjustment of status or create a formal new rule requiring all applicants to consular process.
- Significant questions remain, including how USCIS will
Hikes in Prevailing Wage Levels for H-1B and PERM Cases? DOL Proposal Explained
The Department of Labor (DOL) has published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to revise how prevailing wage levels are calculated for the H-1B, H-1B1, E-3, and PERM employment based non-immigrant and immigrant visa programs.
The March 27, 2026, proposal seeks to increase the four-tiered prevailing wage structure for these visa programs by aligning them…
Burma, Ethiopia, and Somalia TPS Update: Additional Agency Guidance for I-9 and E-Verify Compliance
- Section 1 (“Expiration Date”) – input
Haiti and Syria TPS Update: Additional Agency Guidance for I-9 and E-Verify Compliance
- Section 1 (“Expiration Date”) – input “as per court
TPS Update for Burma, Ethiopia, Haiti, and More: Employer I-9, E-Verify Checklists Following Agency Guidance
Takeaways
- Current work authorization remains valid, for now.
- Employers should update Form I-9s with specific notations according to USCIS and E-Verify guidance (updated expiration and “as per court order”).
- Employers should handle E-Verify consistently and use the updated expiration date from the I-9 in E-Verify cases.
USCIS and E-Verify have published coordinated employer guidance confirming…
A Quicker Option: U.S. Preclearance Now Available at Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport
Effective March 10, 2026, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) joined nine other Canadian airports in offering U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance. The preclearance allows travelers to complete their U.S. immigration, customs, and agriculture inspection before departure. This is great news for travelers wishing to return to the U.S. in a quicker and…
Haiti TPS Update: Employer Checklists for I-9 and E-Verify Compliance Following Agency Guidance
Takeaways
- Current work authorization remains valid for now.
- Employers should update Form I-9s with specific notations according to USCIS/E-Verify guidance (expiration “03-15-2026” and “as per court order”).
- Employers should handle E-Verify consistently and use the 03.15.26 date from the I-9 in E-Verify cases.
Status of Haiti TPS Work Authorization
A federal court in the D.C.