First H-1B Lottery Under Trump’s $100,000 Filing Fee Begins, Sending Shockwaves Through U.S. Talent Strategy
USCIS Issues March 5 RFI for Mobile ‘Digital Green Card’ and EAD, Signaling Paperless Future for Immigration Documents
U.S. Embassy in Abuja Shuts Doors and Reschedules March 4–5 Visa & ACS Appointments Amid Protest Threats
Latest News
State Department Issues Level-2 Travel Advisory for Angola, Citing Crime, Health Risks and Unrest
The State Department updated Angola’s advisory on 5 March, retaining Level 2 status but adding stark language on violent crime in Luanda, weak healthcare and unexploded ordnance. U.S. firms with projects in Angola—especially in energy—should reassess travel approvals, medical-evac coverage and local security contracts.
USCIS opens FY-2027 H-1B cap registration, launches wage-weighted lottery
USCIS opened the FY-2027 H-1B cap registration period on 4 March 2026 and rolled out a wage-weighted lottery that favors higher-paid roles. Employers must use a new organizational e-account and may face a US$100,000 supplemental fee for consular H-1B petitions. The shift means tighter compliance, higher costs and greater competition for talent—key factors for corporate mobility planning.
ICE signals closure of troubled Camp East Montana detention site amid measles outbreak
On 4 March 2026 The Texas Tribune revealed an ICE memorandum outlining plans to terminate Camp East Montana’s contract after a deadly year and a fresh measles outbreak. The move could redistribute thousands of detainees and disrupt case processing, while intensifying political debate over large-scale immigration detention.
Court of International Trade orders CBP to reliquidate entries without IEEPA tariffs
The CIT’s 4 March 2026 order tells CBP to strip IEEPA duties from all unfinalized entries and refund billions in tariffs, setting in motion a massive, automated reliquidation program. Importers must prepare ACE data and protest strategies while CBP builds the refund pipeline.
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.