USCIS and State Department policy updates in five languages
Last updated: 2026-10-01 17:16 KST
USCIS Announces FY 2027 Inflation Adjustment for Certain H.R. 1 Immigration Fees
USCIS has published a Federal Register notice raising certain H.R. 1 immigration-related fees for fiscal year 2027 to account for inflation from July 2025 through July 2026. The new fees take effect on Oct. 16, 2026, and apply to requests postmarked on or after that date.
Effective: Oct 16, 2026USCIS Helps Florida Charge 16 Noncitizens With Unlawful Voting
USCIS assisted a Florida investigation that led to charges against 16 noncitizens accused of registering to vote by falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and then voting. Four additional individuals were charged with voting while on felony probation. USCIS confirmed the alien status of the individuals involved, according to the Florida Attorney General's Office.
USCIS to Adjust EB-5 Fees to Cover Program Costs and Boost Integrity Measures
USCIS announced it is updating fees for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program so that fees fully recover the cost of running the program, meet statutory processing time goals, and support integrity measures such as audits and site visits. The change finalizes a proposed rule published by DHS in October 2025. The source does not specify exact new fee amounts.
Effective: Nov 30, 2026Cuban National Convicted in International Alien Smuggling and Money Laundering Case
USCIS supported an investigation that led to the conviction of Lazaro Alain Cabrera-Rodriguez, a Cuban national, for conspiring to run an international alien smuggling organization and launder its proceeds. The organization charged between $1,500 and $40,000 per smuggled migrant and used fraudulent ESTA applications and false claims of European citizenship.
Romanian National Pleads Guilty to Conspiring in Marriage Fraud Scheme
Antonia-Beatrice Mircea, a Romanian citizen, admitted to conspiring with a U.S. citizen to enter a sham marriage to obtain lawful permanent residence. USCIS assisted the federal investigation, announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey.
Two Aliens Charged in New Jersey With Illegal Voting and False Statements on N-400
USCIS assisted an investigation that led to charges against a Jamaican national and a Venezuelan national living in New Jersey, accused of voting in federal elections while not U.S. citizens and lying about it on their naturalization applications. Both allegedly certified falsely on voter registration forms that they were citizens and later denied voting history on Form N-400.
Nigerian National Indicted for Falsely Claiming Citizenship to Vote
A federal grand jury in Kansas indicted George Olawunmi Johnson, a Nigerian national and lawful permanent resident, for falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register and vote in elections. USCIS assisted Homeland Security Investigations in the case.
Trump Proclamation Extends $100,000 H-1B Entry Restriction Through September 2027
Proclamation 11069, signed September 18, 2026, extends the 2025 H-1B entry restriction under Proclamation 10973 for an additional 12 months. H-1B specialty occupation workers outside the United States remain barred from entry unless their petition is accompanied by a $100,000 payment, except where DHS grants a national interest exception.
Effective: Sep 21, 2026USCIS Reports Naturalization Fraud Charge and Three Denaturalization Cases in North Carolina
A federal grand jury in Charlotte indicted a naturalized citizen from Bhutan for naturalization fraud, alleging he concealed prior child sexual abuse when applying for citizenship. Separately, the U.S. Attorney's Office filed civil denaturalization complaints against three other individuals accused of obtaining citizenship through fraud or concealment of immigration violations.
Executive Order Strengthens Interagency Review of H-1B Visa Petitions
President Trump signed Executive Order 14431 on September 18, 2026, published in the Federal Register on September 23, 2026, directing closer coordination among federal agencies in reviewing H-1B petitions, labor condition applications and visas. The order responds to concerns about wage suppression, layoffs of American workers and outsourcing abuses linked to the H-1B program.
Effective: Sep 18, 2026Haitian National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Voting in 2024 U.S. Election
A Haitian citizen, Valery Zidor, pleaded guilty in federal court in Miami to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on voter registration forms and voting in the 2024 general election. USCIS assisted Homeland Security Investigations in the case.
Two Chinese Nationals Indicted on Naturalization Fraud and Firearms Charges
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri announced that two Chinese nationals turned themselves in on Sept. 17 after being indicted on naturalization and firearms related charges. USCIS assisted in the investigation alongside the FBI and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations.
State Department Updates FOIA Rules, Clarifies Requirements for Visa Record Requests
The State Department has revised its public access to information regulations at 22 CFR Part 171 to reflect changes in agency organization and procedures, including electronic submission of requests. The rule updates how requesters should describe records sought and consolidates identity verification requirements. It takes effect on October 21, 2026.
Effective: Oct 21, 2026State Department Delegates Visa Bond Waiver Authority to Senior Consular Officials
The State Department issued a notice delegating its authority to waive visa bond requirements under 22 CFR 41.11(c)(3) to the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services. This is an internal administrative change specifying who may authorize such waivers on behalf of the Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs.
USCIS Announces H-2B Cap Reached for First Half of FY 2027
USCIS has received enough petitions to meet the congressionally mandated H-2B cap for the first half of fiscal year 2027. September 4, 2026 was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B petitions requesting an employment start date before April 1, 2027. Petitions received after that date requesting such start dates will be rejected.
Effective: Sep 4, 2026Labor Day 2026 Proclamation Mentions Proposed New H-1B Visa Fee
The White House issued a presidential proclamation declaring September 7, 2026, as Labor Day. The proclamation briefly mentions a proposal for a new fee on H-1B visa petitions intended to encourage companies to hire American workers first.
State Department Designates Los Tiguerones as a Foreign Terrorist Organization
The U.S. Department of State has designated the group Los Tiguerones, also known as Los Fenix and Los Igualitos, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under section 219 of the INA. The designation took effect upon publication in the Federal Register on September 10, 2026.
Effective: Sep 10, 2026Federal Court Temporarily Halts USCIS Diversity Visa Hold Policy PM-602-0193
On Aug. 28, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered a temporary vacatur of USCIS policy memorandum PM-602-0193, which had imposed a hold on certain Diversity Visa (DV) adjustment of status cases. USCIS must resume ordinary adjudication of affected applicants' cases for the remainder of the DV fiscal year while litigation continues.
Effective: Aug 28, 2026DHS Issues Rule Allowing Certain Children of Foreign Government Employees to Register as LPRs
DHS has issued an interim final rule expanding eligibility for lawful permanent resident registration to certain children born in the United States to foreign government employees, not just foreign diplomatic officers. The rule implements Executive Order 14418 and takes effect September 4, 2026.
Effective: Sep 4, 2026USCIS to Open New International Field Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
USCIS is opening a new international field office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, beginning operations on September 9, 2026. The office will directly handle document verification, fraud investigations, and DNA collection for family relationship confirmation, functions previously coordinated with the Department of State.
Effective: Sep 9, 2026Trump Declares National Emergency Over Foreign Threats to U.S. Bulk-Power System
Executive Order 14421, signed August 26, 2026, declares a national emergency regarding foreign-supplied electric equipment used in the U.S. bulk-power system. The order restricts certain transactions involving equipment linked to designated Covered Foreign Entities and directs the Secretary of Energy to develop implementing rules. This measure concerns energy infrastructure security and is unrelated to visa or immigration processing.
Effective: Aug 26, 2026Court Enjoins USCIS Hold Policies, Certifies Class in Red Eagle Law v. Edlow
On Aug. 24, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California enjoined USCIS Policy Memoranda PM-602-0192 and PM-602-0194, which had placed adjudication holds on certain applications. The court also certified a class of affected applicants and ordered USCIS to resume normal processing of their cases.
Effective: Aug 24, 2026USCIS to Issue New Form I-485 Edition, Rejecting Older Versions From Sept. 18
USCIS will publish a revised edition of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, dated 09/18/26, effective Sept. 18, 2026. The revision aligns the form with the recently announced Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Final Rule, and there is no grace period between editions.
Effective: Sep 18, 2026USCIS Issues New Public Charge Guidance for Adjustment of Status Applicants
USCIS updated its Policy Manual to explain how officers will decide whether an applicant for adjustment of status is likely to become a public charge, following a DHS final rule that rescinds the 2022 Biden-era public charge regulations. The new guidance takes effect Sept. 18, 2026 and applies to Form I-485 filings submitted on or after that date.
Effective: Sep 18, 2026White House Proclaims August 2026 National Substance Use Primary Prevention Month
The President issued a proclamation designating August 2026 as National Substance Use Primary Prevention Month. The document highlights prior administration actions on fentanyl scheduling, cartel designations, and border security, but does not change any visa or immigration rules.
Effective: Aug 12, 2026
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