USCIS Sets March 4 Opening for FY-2027 H-1B Registration, Introduces Weighted Lottery and $100K Fee
New ESTA Photo Requirement Triggers Wave of U.S.-Bound Trip Cancellations
Partial U.S. Government Shutdown Puts DHS Funding—and Immigration Operations—In Limbo
Latest News
Justice Department Asks Appeals Court to Restore ICE Arrests at Marriage-Based Green Card Interviews
At a 1 February hearing, the Justice Department asked the Fourth Circuit to lift a Maryland injunction that prevents ICE from arresting foreign spouses at green-card interviews. A ruling will shape enforcement norms across five states and influence how mixed-status families pursue lawful status—issues that indirectly affect workforce mobility and spousal work rights.
Trump Administration Doubles FY-2026 H-2B Cap, Adding 65,000 Seasonal Worker Visas
DHS and DOL issued a temporary rule on January 31 adding 65,000 H-2B visas for FY 2026. Employers must prove “irreparable harm,” and most of the visas are reserved for returning workers. The move eases acute labor shortages in hospitality, construction and other seasonal industries but introduces new compliance hurdles. Companies should prepare petitions immediately because the supplemental quota is expected to vanish within days.
Winter Storm Fern Leaves Lasting Air-Travel Scars as Airlines Cancel Nearly 20,000 U.S. Flights
SFGate’s January 31 analysis shows Winter Storm Fern canceled nearly 20,000 U.S. flights, marking the heaviest disruption since 2020. Northeast hubs were devastated, with some posting 90-plus-percent cancellation rates. Although operations are stabilizing, crew and aircraft imbalances may cause residual delays into February, prompting mobility teams to re-check critical itineraries and revisit carrier strategies.