USCIS opens FY-2027 H-1B cap registration, launches wage-weighted lottery
ICE signals closure of troubled Camp East Montana detention site amid measles outbreak
Court of International Trade orders CBP to reliquidate entries without IEEPA tariffs
Latest News
CBP intercepts outbound Corvette carrying 44 pistols at Laredo bridge
On 4 March 2026 CBP officers in Laredo seized 44 pistols and 79 magazines hidden in a Corvette headed to Mexico, reflecting stepped-up outbound enforcement. The incident signals potential delays for cross-border commuters and cargo and reinforces compliance obligations around firearms exports.
March 2026 Visa Bulletin shows minimal EB movement but warns of possible retrogression
The March 2026 Visa Bulletin delivers only marginal advancement in key employment-based green-card queues and warns that EB-1 worldwide could retrogress. Employers should prepare for continued reliance on temporary visas and monitor April projections closely.
USCIS premium-processing fees rise across the board, effective 1 March
USCIS’s premium-processing surcharge rose on 1 March 2026, pushing the H-1B fast-track fee to US$2,965. The higher costs coincide with the H-1B cap season and will ripple through corporate mobility budgets.
USCIS Opens FY 2027 H-1B Registration Window with New Weighted Lottery and Possible $100K Surcharge
USCIS will accept FY 2027 H-1B cap registrations March 4–19 and introduce a weighted lottery that boosts selection odds for higher-wage roles. Selected employers may also face a new $100,000 supplemental fee, making budget forecasting and wage-level strategy essential for global-mobility programs. ([wolfsdorf.com](https://wolfsdorf.com/h-1b-cap-registration-opens-march-4-what-employers-and-hr-must-know/))
DHS Announces End of Temporary Protected Status for Yemen, Effective May 4
DHS published a March 3 Federal Register notice ending TPS for Yemen on May 4, 2026, eliminating protection and work authorization for about 9,500 Yemeni nationals. Employers must re-verify I-9s and employees must obtain another status or depart. The move raises operational and humanitarian concerns and could spark litigation. ([akamai-staging.justice.gov](https://akamai-staging.justice.gov/eoir/federal-register-notices-2026))
Middle-East Conflict Triggers U.S. Embassy Closures and Visa Delays Across the Region
A March 3 Ellis Legal alert details widescale U.S. embassy closures, visa-appointment cancellations and airspace disruptions following new Middle-East hostilities. Business travelers face lengthy reroutes, while immigrants and students see TPS protections and Special Student Relief curtailed. Companies must activate duty-of-care and immigration-contingency plans. ([ellis.com](https://www.ellis.com/resources/middle-east-travel-advisory-visa-delays-march-2026))
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/))