TSA PreCheck Fees Rise as New Pricing Takes Effect
USCIS Announces FY 2027 Inflation Adjustment to HR-1 Immigration Filing Fees
JetBlue Issues Same-Day Advisory on Ebola-Related U.S. Entry Restrictions
Latest News
Supreme Court to Review Trump-Era Policy Denying Bond Hearings to Detained Immigrants
The Supreme Court will examine the legality of a Trump administration policy that bars most detained immigrants from receiving bond hearings. The outcome will determine whether thousands of foreign workers can be released while their cases proceed—a decision with direct consequences for U.S. employers, assignees, and mobility programs.
GSA FY 2027 CONUS Per-Diem Rates Take Effect, Lodging Cap Rises to $113
Effective 1 October 2026, GSA has increased the standard CONUS lodging cap to US $113 while leaving meals-and-incidentals at $68–$92. The new FY 2027 per-diem schedule affects federal employees and private contractors that benchmark travel reimbursements to GSA rates.
Federal Government Shutdown Begins, Creating Uncertainty for Travel, Visas and Border Operations
The U.S. government shutdown that began on October 1 keeps core security functions running but furloughs many support staff, raising the prospect of longer airport lines, slower Global Entry processing and E-Verify outages. Passport and visa services remain open for now, yet mobility programs should brace for cascading delays if the stalemate continues.
State Department Updates Caribbean Travel Advisories Ahead of U.S. Winter Peak
The State Department issued fresh travel-advisory levels for popular Caribbean destinations on Oct. 1. New Level 2 warnings for the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica mean U.S. companies must review travel-risk protocols, insurance coverage, and security plans for employees heading to the region this winter.
California Ports of Entry Log 80-160 Minute Vehicle Waits as CBP Closes Lanes for Biometric Upgrade
Lane reductions to install facial-recognition hardware drove wait times up to 160 minutes at San Ysidro and 90 minutes at Otay Mesa on 30 September 2026. The closures are part of CBP’s roll-out of Simplified Arrival biometrics at land borders and foreshadow similar disruptions at other crossings over the next 12 months.
October 2026 Visa Bulletin signals continued backlogs for India and China employment categories
The October 2026 Visa Bulletin shows little movement for Indian and Chinese employment applicants, with EB-2 India at March 15 2012 and EB-3 India at October 1 2012. USCIS will use the Final Action chart, so many high-skilled workers remain years from green-card completion.
Treasury tightens Cuba Sanctions: people-to-people travel and ‘U-Turn’ transactions eliminated
OFAC’s September 30 final rule bans indirect transactions with Cuba-restricted entities, abolishes group people-to-people and professional-meeting travel, and kills the “U-Turn” dollar-payment loophole. U.S. companies must reassess travel, payments and compliance processes immediately.
Runway Projects Trigger 2,249 Flight Delays and 119 Cancellations Across U.S. Hubs
Boston Logan runway work set off a chain of 2,249 delays and 119 cancellations on 29–30 September, snarling schedules at Miami, Los Angeles, Denver and other hubs. Corporate travellers should expect further Northeast ground-delay programs until the resurfacing project wraps later in October.
ICE Quietly Removes 16,000 Names From Public Detainee Locator, Prompting UN Appeal
ICE has removed the names of some 16,000 detainees with final removal orders from its public locator tool, a move rights groups say hides people from lawyers and family. The change complicates employers’ ability to track foreign workers suddenly detained and raises duty-of-care and compliance risks for U.S. companies.
State Department Lifts 75-Country Immigrant Visa Pause but Global Interview Freeze Persists
A newly leaked cable orders U.S. consulates to end the 75-country immigrant-visa pause vacated by a federal court and to reopen 43,000 refused cases, but a separate global interview freeze continues to block appointments for all nationalities. Employers should prepare for uneven green-card processing as posts juggle reopened cases and ongoing training.
CBP Signals It May Scale Back Controversial Big Bend Border Project
CBP told a federal judge it may shrink the scope of its Big Bend security project, hinting at lighter-touch technology instead of heavy construction. The move could preserve an iconic national-park landscape while still enhancing surveillance, but it also prolongs uncertainty for businesses that rely on the sparsely served Boquillas corridor.
BIA Decision Expands Immigration Judges’ Power to Dismiss Asylum Cases
In Matter of O-R-S-, the BIA affirmed that immigration judges can dismiss clearly deficient asylum claims over government objections. The precedent could speed some removals, affecting employers that rely on asylum-pending work authorization as a bridge to longer-term visas.
USCIS issues final EB-5 Immigrant Investor Fee Rule
USCIS has finalized a rule that sharply increases every EB-5 filing fee, adds a $1,500 technology surcharge, and hard-codes Integrity Fund payments. The fees take effect November 30 and will raise the price of a standard investor petition by about 71 percent. Companies using EB-5 funding need to update budgets and timelines immediately.
Judge Orders Continued Detention of Venezuelan Driver Shot by ICE Agent in Texas
An Austin judge kept a Venezuelan delivery driver—who was shot and arrested by ICE—detained without bond, citing the federal mandatory-detention policy. The high-profile case underscores enforcement risks for gig-economy workers and the businesses that rely on them.
CBP may scale back Big Bend border project after stakeholder pushback
New court documents show CBP is re-evaluating a controversial border-security build in Big Bend National Park and may reduce its scope, averting potential disruptions at remote Texas crossings frequently used by cross-border workers and service providers.
Immigration Judge Clears Deportation of Wisconsin Mosque Leader on Security Grounds
A Chicago immigration judge ruled that Imam Khaled Sarsour can be deported on national-security grounds, despite earlier findings of potential First-Amendment retaliation. The precedent could widen security-related visa scrutiny for foreign nonprofit and community leaders employed in the U.S.
GAO Audit Finds ICE Wasted Millions on Abandoned Warehouse Detention Plan
A GAO watchdog report says ICE squandered at least $20 million on an ill-fated plan to turn warehouses into detention centers, part of $1 billion in questionable spending. Lawmakers may now impose stricter budget controls, and the fallout could shift DHS priorities toward employer audits.