On January 14, 2026, the Department of State (DOS) announced a temporary pause on the issuance of immigrant visas (green cards from overseas) for nationals of 75 countries, effective January 21, 2026. DOS said this pause is for the government to review how immigrant...
Topic: Immigration Articles
DHS Launches Sweeping Fraud Investigation in Minnesota
On January 9, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that they have launched Operation PARRIS (Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening) in Minnesota, "a sweeping...
DOS Adds Countries Subject to Visa Bonds and Expands Ports of Entry
The Department of State (DOS) has identified nationals from a list of countries as needing visa bonds. Any citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by one of these countries, who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bond for either...
DOL, DHS Announce Additional 35,000 Visas to Supplement FY 2026 H-2B Cap
The Departments of Labor (DOL) and Homeland Security (DHS) said they will make an additional 35,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas available for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, on top of the congressionally mandated 66,000 H-2B visas that are available each fiscal...
DHS to Raise Premium Processing Fees
On January 9, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security announced that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is raising premium processing fees effective March 1, 2026. Those submitting a request for premium processing postmarked on or after that date must...
Law360 Highlights Steve Yale-Loehr on a Pivotal Immigration Case
Steve was quoted by Law360 in The Legal Fights Set to Define Access to Justice in 2026. He said that although the Supreme Court has been largely deferential to President Trump on most immigration issues, the birthright citizenship case might present an opportunity to...
Cornell Law Experts to Host 2026 Immigration Law Outlook Webinar
Steve Yale-Loehr and four other Cornell Law experts will present a free webinar on Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 1 to 2 p.m. ET on how immigration law and policy changed in 2025 and what we might expect in 2026. If you can't make the live webinar, you can register...
District Court Rules Against Plaintiffs in $100,000 H-1B Fee Lawsuit
In Chamber of Commerce v. Department of Homeland Security, a district court has ruled in favor of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), finding that imposition of a $100,000 fee for new H-1B applications and related actions were legal under a Presidential...
DOS Issues Updated Diversity Visa Guidance
On December 23, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) released updated guidance on diversity visa (DV) issuance. The guidance notes that effective immediately, DOS has paused all visa issuances to diversity immigrant visa applicants. DV applicants may submit visa...
OFLC Reminds Stakeholders of H-2B Filing Timeline for 2026 Peak Filing Season
On December 29, 2025, the Department of Labor's Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) reminded employers and other interested stakeholders that the filing window to submit an H-2B Application for Temporary Employment Certification (Form ETA-9142B and...
