20 Mar 26 — USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for Second Half of FY 2026 and Announces Supplemental Filing Dates
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on March 20, 2026, that it has received enough petitions to meet the statutory H-2B cap for the second half of fiscal year 2026 (covering employment start dates from April 1 to September 30, 2026). As a result, March 10, 2026 was established as the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B petitions for that period, and any petitions received after this date will be rejected.
USCIS also confirmed that filing dates are now available for the second and third allocations of supplemental H-2B visas, which provide additional limited visa availability beyond the statutory cap for employers still facing labor shortages. The update highlights continued high demand for seasonal foreign workers and directs employers to monitor supplemental visa windows as their primary remaining option for FY 2026 hiring.
20 Feb 26 — DHS Proposes Rule to Prioritize Americans’ Safety by Strengthening Screening of Asylum Seekers
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on February 20, 2026, that it is proposing a rule to reduce the incentive for aliens to file fraudulent asylum claims so they can obtain employment authorization while their cases are pending. The proposal comes amid a historic backlog of more than 1.4 million pending affirmative asylum claims, which DHS says has strained U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) resources. Under the draft rule, DHS would change filing and eligibility requirements for asylum-based work permits, including measures such as pausing acceptance of new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) applications when asylum processing times exceed 180 days, extending the wait period to apply for an EAD to 365 days, and adding new eligibility criteria. The agency says the changes would help focus resources on genuine asylum seekers, reduce meritless or fraudulent filings, and strengthen the integrity of the asylum and work authorization process. Public comments on the proposed rule are being accepted through April 24, 2026.
13 Feb 26 — Cap Reached for First Allocation of Returning Worker H-2B Visas FY 2026
USCIS confirmed that on February 13, 2026, it received enough petitions to reach the cap for the first allocation of 18,490 supplemental H-2B visas reserved for returning workers with employment start dates between January 1 and March 31, 2026, under the FY 2026 H-2B supplemental cap temporary final rule (TFR). Because more petitions were submitted than available visas, USCIS used a computer-generated random selection process to fairly allocate visas to eligible employers. Petitions submitted after the February 6, 2026 final filing date for this allocation will be rejected and returned along with associated filing fees.
13 Feb 26 — DHS Terminates Temporary Protected Status for Yemen
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on February 13, 2026 that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Yemen, ending a designation first made in September 2015 due to ongoing armed conflict. After the Federal Register notice is published, there will be a 60-day transition period before the termination becomes effective. During that time, work authorization and deportation relief tied to TPS will remain valid, but beneficiaries are expected to seek alternative lawful status or depart the United States if they do not have another basis to stay. DHS stated it determined that country conditions no longer meet the statutory requirements for continued TPS.
30 Jan 26 — FY 2027 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 4
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2027 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 4, 2026 and run through noon Eastern on March 19, 2026. During this window, employers and their representatives must electronically register each prospective beneficiary using a USCIS online account and pay the $215 registration fee for each registration. USCIS will notify registrants whose beneficiaries are selected by March 31, 2026, and only those selected may then file H-1B cap-subject petitions. This year’s cycle will again use a weighted selection process that prioritizes higher-skilled and higher-paid workers.
14 Jan 26 — DHS Reduces Wait Times for Thousands of Religious Workers Abroad
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through USCIS, issued an interim final rule effective immediately that eliminates the mandatory one-year foreign residency requirement for many R-1 nonimmigrant religious workers who reach the five-year maximum period of stay before returning to the United States. Under the previous rule, these workers had to remain outside the U.S. for at least a year before reapplying for R-1 status, leading to prolonged service gaps for priests, pastors, nuns, rabbis, and other religious personnel. The new policy lets eligible religious workers seek readmission more quickly after departing, reducing disruptions to faith-based organizations and their communities. USCIS is accepting written comments for 60 days after its Federal Register publication.
09 Jan 26 — USCIS to Increase Premium Processing Fees
USCIS announced on January 9, 2026 that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will publish a final rule increasing USCIS premium processing fees effective March 1, 2026. The inflation-based adjustment reflects increases from June 2023 through June 2025 and applies to requests for premium processing service (Form I-907) across many classifications. The revenue from the fee changes will be used to support premium processing services, improve adjudication processes, address backlogs, and fund USCIS operations. Applicants submitting requests postmarked on or after March 1 must include the updated fee amounts in their filings.