State Department Reinstates Passport Requirement for Diversity Visa Lottery
USCIS Releases New Form I-129 Ahead of Wage-Weighted H-1B Lottery
Global Entry Kiosks Go Dark Nationwide Amid Partial Government Shutdown
Latest News
New Compliance Minefield for F-1 and M-1 Students as ’Strict-Status’ Rules Take Effect
USCIS has rolled out the most stringent F-1/M-1 compliance framework in a decade: shorter post-completion grace periods, fixed I-94 expiry dates, tougher CPT/OPT rules and real-time data sharing with CBP. Unauthorized employment—even brief gig work—now triggers immediate status loss and re-entry bans.
Middle East Airspace Closures Still Disrupt U.S. Spring-Break Travel
Flight cancellations tied to the Iran conflict continue to snarl routes through Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, affecting U.S. vacationers and business travelers alike. With fuel prices surging and airlines rerouting around closed airspace, travel managers should brace for higher costs and longer journey times.
FY 2027 H-1B Cap Registration Opens with New Wage-Weighted Lottery Rules
USCIS opened the FY 2027 H-1B registration period on 4 March 2026 and will close it on 19 March. For the first time, a wage-weighted lottery gives higher salary levels better odds of selection. Employers must file electronically and budget for the $215 fee per candidate, while preparing for potential downstream petitions between 1 April and 30 June.
Hours-Long TSA Lines and Global Entry Shutdown Disrupt Spring-Break Travel as DHS Funding Lapses
A partial DHS shutdown has left TSA agents unpaid, producing multi-hour security lines at major U.S. airports and forcing DHS to close Global Entry kiosks nationwide. The disruption, which peaked on 8-9 March, is hitting spring-break and business travelers alike, raising costs for airlines and threatening supply-chain timelines. Without new funding, experts warn that absenteeism and delays could worsen after 14 March.
Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Fast-Track End of Temporary Protected Status
The Justice Department has asked the Supreme Court to clear legal obstacles to ending TPS for Haitians, Syrians and other groups, a move that could expose hundreds of thousands of long-term U.S. residents to deportation and disrupt labor-intensive industries. Employers should audit I-9 records and prepare backup staffing plans while litigation continues.
US Embassy in Islamabad Suspends Visa Services 9–13 March Amid Regional Tensions
The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad has cancelled all visa interviews from 9-13 March 2026, citing Middle-East-related security concerns. Thousands of Pakistani students, business travelers and family applicants will be rescheduled, lengthening already-long wait times and potentially delaying U.S. project start dates. Companies should prepare contingency plans, including third-country processing and remote-work options, in case the pause is extended.