Rights Groups Sue Over 75-Country U.S. Visa Ban
State Department Confirms Passports and Visas Will Continue During Shutdown
U.S. Orders Departure of Staff, Issues Level-4 ‘Do Not Travel’ Advisory for Niger
Latest News
Immigration-Policy Standoff Complicates Funding Deal to Reopen Government
House negotiations to end the partial government shutdown became bogged down on 2 February as Democrats seek immigration-enforcement reforms in exchange for their votes. The stalemate threatens DHS operating funds, raising the prospect of delayed border processing and immigration-benefit adjudications.
USCIS Sets March 4 Opening for FY-2027 H-1B Registration, Introduces Weighted Lottery and $100K Fee
The FY-2027 H-1B cap registration portal will open 4–19 March 2026. USCIS will use a wage-based weighted lottery and may levy an extra US $100,000 fee on certain high-volume employers. Companies must budget for the new costs, set competitive wage levels, and update internal systems well ahead of the compressed filing window.
New ESTA Photo Requirement Triggers Wave of U.S.-Bound Trip Cancellations
CBP has started cancelling previously-approved ESTA travel authorisations that used scanned passport photos, insisting on a new live photo for every application. Airlines and cruise lines reported denied boardings on 1 February, forcing business and leisure travellers to reapply at short notice. Mobility managers should immediately verify employees’ ESTA status and prepare for additional biometric requirements as CBP moves the process to a mobile-app platform.
Partial U.S. Government Shutdown Puts DHS Funding—and Immigration Operations—In Limbo
Funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapsed on 31 January, forcing a partial government shutdown. USCIS continues processing thanks to fee funding, but the Labor Department’s immigration systems are offline and DHS personnel are unpaid. Visa-dependent employers face filing delays, and travellers should brace for longer airport and border wait times until Congress restores funding.
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.