CBP Expands CAPE Portal to Handle Reconciliation-Flagged Entries from 29 June
Supreme Court Poised to Rule on Birthright Citizenship, Putting 14th Amendment Under Spotlight
Federal Judge Orders USCIS to Resume Processing for Nationals of 39 Countries
Latest News
Federal Court Blocks Controversial $100,000 H-1B Filing Fee—but Relief Is Only Temporary
A district court has struck down—but immediately stayed—the Biden-era US$100,000 H-1B filing fee, leaving the surcharge in effect pending appeal. The decision offers only provisional relief while new bills seek to overhaul or even pause the programme. Employers should budget conservatively and explore cap-exempt or alternate visa routes.
USCIS Issues Final Rule Overhauling Alien Registration Documents and Biometrics Waivers
A final DHS rule effective 29 June 2026 revises alien-registration regulations: introduces a universal Form I-770, narrows fingerprint waivers and updates which documents count as evidence of registration. Employers of parolees and other non-visa holders must update I-9 and policy templates to reflect the new document codes.
Hyderabad and Mumbai Now Face 9.5-Month Waits for U.S. B-1/B-2 Interviews; $750 Expedited Pilot Starts 1 July
State Department figures released 29 June show B-1/B-2 interview waits of nearly ten months at Hyderabad and Mumbai. A new optional US$750 fee will offer ten-day expedited appointments beginning 1 July, but approval times remain unchanged. Corporates should file early and consider paying the premium for time-sensitive trips.
TPS Comments by DHS Chief Spark MAGA Backlash and Confusion Over ‘Self-Deportation’ Options
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s TV comments that TPS holders could stay permanently—or accept a stipend to depart—triggered conservative outrage and raised fears of policy reversals. Employers of TPS beneficiaries should brace for potential work-authorisation turbulence.
UK Updates U.S. Travel Advice: Ebola Screening and World-Cup Crowds Highlighted
The UK has updated its travel advice for the United States, flagging possible Ebola-related entry screening and advising travelers to plan for heavy airport congestion during the U.S. leg of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mobility managers should factor extra time and health-compliance checks into summer travel plans.
State Department’s Switch to Pay.gov Disrupts Visa Issuance Worldwide
The State Department has begun routing many visa-issuance and reciprocity fees through Pay.gov. Glitches in the new system are preventing timely fee verification, triggering Section 221(g) holds and delaying visa issuance for business travelers. Companies should pay fees well in advance, keep receipts and build extra lead-time into assignment schedules.
State Department’s Pay.gov Rollout Triggers Consular Fee Confusion and Section 221(g) Visa Holds
The State Department has migrated many visa-issuance and reciprocity fee payments to Pay.gov. Glitches in the new system are causing consular officers to issue INA §221(g) holds, delaying visas and disrupting start-dates for multinational staff. Employers should retain digital receipts and build extra time into travel plans until the platform stabilises.
UK Updates USA Travel Advice Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup, Flags ESTA and Ebola-Region Rules
The UK’s 29 June update to its USA travel advice highlights ESTA/visa planning for the June-July 2026 FIFA World Cup and adds health-screening rules for travellers from Ebola-affected countries. Businesses should expect heavy summer demand for U.S. entry clearances and possible CBP congestion.
White House Renews National Emergency on North Korea, Keeping Travel and Trade Curbs in Place
The White House has renewed the longstanding national emergency regarding North Korea’s nuclear program, extending sanctions, export restrictions and travel curbs for another year. Firms must maintain DPRK compliance screening and continue to bar business travel to North Korea absent specific federal authorization.
Lightning Strike Knocks Out Kolkata Consulate Systems, Forcing Two-Day Cancellation of U.S. Visa Interviews
Severe storms disabled visa-processing equipment at the U.S. Consulate in Kolkata, cancelling interviews on 26 and 29 June. Hundreds of applicants now face re-booking amid already long wait-times, posing risks for business travellers relying on July start-dates.
U.S. Supreme Court issues trilogy of rulings vastly expanding presidential immigration powers
In three separate decisions released June 28, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to (1) block asylum seekers before they enter the U.S., (2) deny re-entry to green-card holders suspected of crimes, and (3) end TPS for more than a million migrants. The rulings sharply limit judicial review of immigration actions and give the president unprecedented control over legal as well as irregular migration. Global-mobility teams should expect greater unpredictability at ports of entry and in long-term workforce planning.
DHS chief tells Temporary Protected Status migrants: “Adjust status or depart”
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said TPS beneficiaries must either adjust to permanent status or prepare to leave, offering a partial travel stipend for voluntary departures. The hard-line stance follows last week’s Supreme Court ruling that allows the Administration to end protections for Haitians and Syrians, and signals a broader rollback of humanitarian programs that will directly affect U.S. employers relying on TPS talent.
DHS issues final rule mandating nationwide registration and biometrics for millions of undocumented migrants
DHS has finalized a rule obliging an estimated 2–3 million unregistered non-citizens to submit personal data and fingerprints and to carry proof of compliance. Non-registration can now trigger fines, criminal penalties and fast-track deportation. Employers face new I-9 risks as biometric data feed into enforcement systems; affected workers gain no legal status from registering.
Federal judge orders USCIS to resume processing for nationals of 39 countries
A federal court invalidated USCIS’s blanket hold on immigration applications filed by nationals of 39 countries and ordered the agency to resume adjudications within two weeks. The ruling immediately reopens stalled green-card and work-permit cases, giving employers a pathway to retain foreign talent that was at risk of losing status.
Congressional proposal seeks categorical ban on immigration from Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan
Rep. Nancy Mace plans to file a bill barring all visa issuance to nationals of Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan, citing security concerns. Although only a draft, the measure would eclipse prior travel bans by cutting off employment-based, student and family visas. Firms hiring from—or rotating staff through—East Africa should begin contingency planning.
State Department elevates Oman to Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” in latest advisory refresh
On 27 June the State Department moved Oman to a Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” advisory, citing regional security risks. The upgrade—picked up in live data feeds on 28 June—means U.S. companies must apply stricter duty-of-care controls, and some travel-insurance policies may no longer provide standard cover for business trips to the Sultanate.