Posts

Jul 18, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

USCIS Reaches FY2027 H-1B Cap — No Second Lottery, and the New Wage-Weighted System Reshapes Selection

USCIS has filled all 85,000 FY2027 H-1B slots with no second lottery, as the first wage-weighted selection cycle drives a 38.5% drop in registrations and boosts advanced-degree selections.

H-1B USCIS Visa News NIW

Jul 17, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

DHS Ends "Duration of Status": F-1 and J-1 Visa Holders Face Fixed 4-Year Admission Under New Final Rule

DHS's new final rule ends open-ended "duration of status" for F, J, and I visa holders, imposing fixed admission periods capped at four years, cutting the F-1 grace period from 60 to 30 days, and restricting mid-program school transfers and objective changes.

F-1 Visa OPT H-1B Duration of Status +2 more

Jul 17, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

DHS Rule Ending 'Duration of Status' for Students Now Official — Published in the Federal Register, Effective September 15

DHS published its final rule ending 'duration of status' for F-1, J-1, and I nonimmigrants in the Federal Register on July 17, 2026. Effective September 15, students face fixed admission periods capped at four years, a shorter 30-day grace period, and mandatory extension-of-stay filings.

F-1 J-1 DHS Student Visas

Jul 17, 2026 • Visa News • 2 min read

State Department to Consolidate U.S. Visa Processing Across Africa Into 20 Regional Hubs, Effective August 1

Effective August 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of State will consolidate routine visa processing across Africa into 20 regional hubs, realigning services away from roughly two dozen embassies and consulates. Valid visas are unaffected, but applicants in many countries will need to travel to their assigned hub.

Visa Processing State Department Africa Consular Processing

Jul 17, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

TPS Work Permits for Six Countries Set to Expire July 17 — What Workers and Employers Need to Know

USCIS set July 17, 2026 as the work-authorization expiration date for TPS holders from Burma, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen (July 24 for Haiti). E-Verify updated its employer handbook as automatic extensions are reduced or eliminated amid ongoing litigation.

TPS USCIS Work Authorization E-Verify

Jul 17, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

USCIS Rescinds 2022 Public Charge Rule: Tougher Green Card Test Returns September 18, 2026

DHS has rescinded the 2022 public charge rule effective September 18, 2026, restoring case-by-case officer discretion and requiring a revised Form I-485 — older editions will be rejected after the effective date.

USCIS Green Card I-485 Public Charge +2 more

Jul 15, 2026 • Visa News • 2 min read

August 2026 Visa Bulletin Outlook: EB-2 India Stays Unavailable as Fiscal-Year Numbers Run Dry

As the August 2026 Visa Bulletin nears release, EB-2 India is expected to stay Unavailable through fiscal year-end, with a cutoff date likely returning October 1.

Visa Bulletin EB-2 Green Card NIW

Jul 15, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

New Gallup Poll: 73% of Americans Still See Immigration as a Good Thing, Even as Support Dips

Gallup polling released in July 2026 shows 73% of Americans view immigration positively — down from a record high but still historically strong, with the dip driven mainly by shifting Republican sentiment.

USCIS Policy Updates

Jul 15, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

The I-94 Trap: Why Your H-1B Approval Date May Not Match Your Authorized Stay

Your H-1B approval notice does not define your authorized stay — your CBP-issued I-94 does. A passport-validity mismatch can silently turn compliant workers into overstays.

H-1B USCIS Processing Times

Jul 14, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

Federal Court Orders DHS to Stop Using Force Against Journalists and Observers at Immigration Operations

A Los Angeles federal judge issued a preliminary injunction barring DHS from using force against journalists, legal observers, and protesters documenting immigration enforcement operations in the Central District of California.

DHS Court Ruling Immigration Enforcement