USCIS Opens FY 2027 H-1B Registration Window with New Weighted Lottery and Possible $100K Surcharge
DHS Announces End of Temporary Protected Status for Yemen, Effective May 4
Middle-East Conflict Triggers U.S. Embassy Closures and Visa Delays Across the Region
Latest News
Ongoing DHS Funding Lapse Suspends Global Entry; HR Urged to Anticipate Travel Disruptions
A March 3 NARFE update confirms the DHS shutdown has halted Global Entry enrollments and could soon disrupt TSA PreCheck, lengthening airport processing for business travelers. Employers should prepare for transit delays, stalled immigration adjudications, and broader compliance ripple effects until Congress restores DHS funding. ([narfe.org](https://www.narfe.org/blog/2026/03/03/homeland-security-shutdown-continues-2/))
Egypt Raises Visa-on-Arrival Fee to $30; U.S. Tour and MICE Budgets Impacted
Effective March 1, Egypt’s visa-on-arrival fee rose from $25 to $30, a change confirmed in a March 3 trade-press report. The $5 increase can inflate costs for corporate meetings, tour groups and relocating staff, making advance e-visa filing and budget updates advisable. ([propakistani.pk](https://propakistani.pk/2026/03/03/egypt-increases-visa-on-arrival-fee-by-5/))
Gordie Howe International Bridge Becomes Class A U.S. Port of Entry, Effective 2 March 2026
CBP finalized a rule making the Gordie Howe International Bridge a Class A port of entry as of 2 March 2026. The move clears the way for full immigration and customs processing at the Detroit-Windsor span, promising shorter wait times and expanded Trusted Traveler capacity. Businesses should prepare for easier cross-border assignments and freight routing once the bridge opens later this year.
U.S. Orders Departure of Non-Emergency Staff From Iraq; Travel Advisory Remains Level 4
On 2 March 2026 the State Department ordered non-essential U.S. personnel to depart Iraq, maintaining its Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory. Visa services are halted and corporate duty-of-care obligations escalate, forcing companies to reconsider assignments, evacuation logistics, and insurance exposure.
Qatar Advisory Upgraded; U.S. Pulls Non-Essential Personnel Amid Gulf Tensions
Citing growing regional conflict, Washington on 2 March 2026 ordered non-essential U.S. staff to leave Qatar and raised the country’s status to Level 3. While commercial flights and visa-on-arrival remain in place, companies should expect route disruptions, higher insurance costs, and slower sponsorship processes for expatriate workers.
U.S. Embassy Jerusalem Suspends Routine Visa Interviews 2-6 March 2026
Because of deteriorating security conditions, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and its Tel Aviv branch have halted routine visa interviews from 2-6 March 2026. Corporations must redirect applicants to third-country posts or leverage interview-waiver options, adding complexity to spring hiring cycles.
FAA Expands Air-Traffic-Controller Pipeline With New Colorado Training Hub
On 2 March 2026 the FAA named Aims Community College to its fast-track controller-training program, part of efforts to alleviate the nation’s air-traffic-controller shortage. Faster staffing should ease congestion and improve flight reliability—good news for business-travel budgets and assignment planning.