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USCIS Policy Updates Travel Ban

Appeals Court Lets USCIS Reopen Already-Approved Cases for Travel-Ban Nationals - But Keeps the Adjudication Freeze Dead

The First Circuit on August 14 refused to revive the USCIS benefits hold and nationality-as-negative-factor policies, but allowed the agency to resume re-reviewing approvals granted on or after January 20, 2021.

F-1 J-1 DHS Policy Updates

Colleges and Unions Sue to Block the Four-Year Cap on F-1 and J-1 Status Weeks Before It Takes Effect

A coalition of universities, educator groups and labor unions filed suit August 18 in federal court in Massachusetts seeking to stop the DHS rule that ends duration of status for international students on September 15.

DHS Proposes a $103,265 Fee on Every Cap-Subject H-1B Petition - Comments Close 30 Days After Aug. 25

DHS filed a proposed rule on Aug. 24 that would add a $103,265 fee to every H-1B cap-subject petition, on top of all existing fees. Comments are due 30 days after the Aug. 25 publication date.

Half of H-1B Cap Filers Are Small Businesses - DHS Says 11,051 of Them Would Take a Significant Hit

DHS data shows 51 percent of FY2025 cap-subject H-1B petitioners were small entities, and the agency concedes its own proposed $103,265 fee would significantly affect 11,051 of them.

Only a Third of the New H-1B Fee Would Go to USCIS - The Rest Funds Immigration Courts, ICE Vetting and DOL

DHS would send 33.7 percent of the proposed H-1B fee to the immigration courts to fund about 8,400 new positions, plus $1.05 billion to ICE and $1.21 billion to the Labor Department. USCIS keeps 34.2 percent.

Aug 24, 2026 • Visa News • 3 min read

Somalia TPS Work Permits Went Invalid August 14 - While Sudan and Ukraine EADs Got Extended to October 19

USCIS terminated Somalia TPS effective August 14, 2026 and voided its A12 and C19 work permits, while automatically extending expired Sudan and Ukraine TPS-based EADs through October 19, 2026.

TPS USCIS Work Permits

State Department Says It Has Revoked More Than 175,000 Visas - and Continuous Vetting Means Yours Is Never Finally Approved

An August 10 State Department release puts total visa revocations since January 2025 above 175,000, most following law enforcement encounters, under an ongoing continuous vetting program.

Visa Revocation State Department Travel

H-1B Policy Updates Texas

Texas Governor Wants Zero H-1B Workers in Public Schools - and Dallas ISD Alone Would Lose Hundreds

Gov. Greg Abbott proposed legislation on August 18 to bar Texas public school districts from sponsoring H-1B visas, extending a freeze he already imposed on state agencies and public universities in January.

The $100,000 H-1B Fee Was Struck Down in Court. Its Replacement Reaches Workers Already in the U.S.

A federal court vacated the guidance implementing the $100,000 H-1B proclamation payment in June. The new $103,265 fee uses ordinary fee-setting authority instead - and unlike an entry restriction, it reaches change-of-status petitions for workers already here.