- 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
By David J. Romanow on
- 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…
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.
DHS Announces End of TPS Designation for Yemen
On Feb. 13, 2026, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Yemen will not be extended.
This TPS designation will terminate 60 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register. During this 60-day transition period, work authorization documents based upon TPS designation will remain valid. After the 60-day…
Ninth Circuit Reinstates DHS TPS Termination for Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has reversed a lower court’s order vacating the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua, reinstating the DHS termination.
In granting the stay pending appeal, the Ninth Circuit concluded the government is likely to succeed on the…