On July 20, 2026, Ontario released the full points system and requirements for its new Workforce Priority Stream, which replaced all eight former OINP streams. Scoring favors higher-skill occupations, wages of $40+/hour, longer time already worked in Ontario, and jobs located outside Toronto, while self-employed physicians follow a separate track based on...
U.S. Ends “Duration of Status” for F-1 Students — How Does Canada Compare?
Effective September 15, 2026, DHS is replacing the open-ended "duration of status" system for F-1, J-1, and I visa holders with a fixed admission period capped at four years — meaning students needing more time must file a formal Extension of Stay with USCIS, along with a $470 fee, and the post-graduation...
The $100,000 H-1B Fee Is Blocked Again: What the First Circuit’s Ruling Actually Changes
The $100,000 H-1B fee is off the table again, at least for now. On July 24, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit denied the government's request to keep the fee in effect while its appeal continues, finding that the administration had not shown it was likely to succeed...
A Pending Application No Longer Guarantees Safe Travel: What Immigrants Should Know Before Flying Domestically
Reports have been building over the past several weeks of noncitizens being stopped and detained at U.S. airports while attempting to board domestic flights, including people who have a pending immigration case or benefit application on file. Incidents have been reported in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas, and...
When a State’s Mistake Becomes Your Immigration Problem: Erroneous Voter Registration and What to Do About It
New Jersey recently disclosed that a software error at the Motor Vehicle Commission caused roughly 6,600 people who had indicated they were not U.S. citizens to be registered to vote anyway, with a few hundred of them reportedly casting a ballot as a result. New Jersey is not the first state to...
Appeals Court Allows Nationwide Expedited Removal to Resume: What This Means for Undocumented Individuals
A federal appeals court has cleared the way for the government to apply expedited removal anywhere in the United States, not only near the border. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 to reverse a lower court order that had blocked the expanded policy since last...
Know What USCIS Has On File Before Your Next Filing
A FOIA request lets you pull your complete immigration file from USCIS, ICE, CBP, EOIR, or DOS — so you know exactly what the government has on record before you file again. With interviews and applications now facing heightened scrutiny, even small inconsistencies between old records and new filings can cause delays...
TN Visa Holders: Why the EB-2 National Interest Waiver Deserves a Look Right Now
The TN visa was built for temporary work, not permanent settlement. It's common for a Canadian or Mexican professional a few years into a TN job to start thinking about putting down roots in the U.S. for the long haul, and that is exactly where friction with the visa's design begins. TN...
Laid Off on H-1B? Here’s How You May Be Able to Transfer Your Status to Your Own Startup
For years, an H-1B worker who lost a job and wanted to build something of their own faced a hard choice: find a new employer fast, or leave the country. Starting a company was treated as a distraction from the immigration emergency, not a real option. A change to the H-1B regulations...
New DHS Rule Also Changes How Family Members’ Visa Extensions Are Approved
When DHS finalized its rule replacing duration of status with fixed admission periods for F, J, and I nonimmigrants, most of the attention went to the individual timelines: the four-year cap, the shortened 30-day grace period for F-1 students, and the new requirement to file for an extension of stay directly with...
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