The October 2026 edition of NPZ & B Law Group’s U.S. and Canadian Immigration Newsletter covers important developments affecting employers, foreign nationals, families, and travelers. Highlights include the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, new H-1B layoff-related scrutiny, the updated public charge rule, expanded social media screening for TN, TD, and I visa applicants,...
Working in Canada as a CUSMA Professional: What Officers Check on a T36 Work Permit Application
A U.S. or Mexican citizen with a Canadian job offer in one of 63 listed professions can obtain a Canadian work permit without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). It is Canada’s counterpart to TN status in the United States. Our earlier post on CUSMA work permits covers the four categories...
E-1, E-2, or L-1: Choosing the Right Visa to Bring Your Business to the U.S.
A foreign company that already operates abroad and wants to move people into the United States — to run a new office, service a contract, or oversee an investment — usually has more than one visa category available to it. The right choice depends less on preference and more on the shape...
ICE Reclassified Common Form I-9 Mistakes as Fineable Violations: What Employers Need to Fix Before an Audit
Until this spring, an employer who left a date off Section 2 of a Form I-9 could expect a short window to correct it if ICE ever came knocking. That window has closed for many of the most common paperwork errors. On March 16, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement updated its...
Marriage Green Card in 2026: Process, Timeline, and Cost
A wedding, on its own, does not change anyone's status with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It creates the possibility of a green card, but reaching that green card still runs through the right paperwork in the right sequence, real proof that the marriage is genuine, and a fork in the road...
October 2026 Visa Bulletin: What You Need to Know
The U.S. Department of State has released the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, marking the start of the new federal fiscal year. October is always a significant month for employment-based immigration, as all annual visa numbers reset. This reset frequently results in forward movement for many categories, though some categories also see retrogressions...
State Department Targets Birth Tourism Networks With New Visa Restrictions
On September 23, 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new visa restriction policy aimed at the people who organize and profit from birth tourism, rather than at expectant travelers alone. The policy relies on Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, a provision the Secretary can invoke when a...
Massachusetts Now Requires Employers to Notify Employees Within 48 Hours of an ICE I-9 Inspection
Employers with workers in Massachusetts have a new compliance deadline to build into their ICE response playbook. Governor Maura Healey signed the PROTECT Act into law on August 5, 2026, and one provision took effect immediately: employers that receive a Notice of Inspection from ICE for Form I-9 records or other...
IRCC Updates Guidance for Contractual Service Suppliers and Independent Professionals Under CETA, CUKTCA, and CKFTA
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its internal Program Delivery Instructions covering contractual service suppliers and independent professionals under three trade agreements: the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement (CUKTCA), and the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA). The update, dated September 21,...
State Department Expands Social Media Screening to TN, TD, and I Visa Applicants Starting October 1
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has announced an expansion of its online presence review for certain nonimmigrant visa applicants. Effective October 1, 2026, the expanded screening will include TN professionals, TD dependents, and I visa applicants who are representatives of foreign media.
As part of the new requirement,...
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