USCIS Deference to Prior Approvals May End: What the October 14 Proposal Means for H-1B, L-1, and O-1 Extensions

A proposed rule published in the Federal Register on October 14, 2026 would repeal the regulation that directs USCIS to follow its own earlier approvals of Form I-129 extension petitions. DHS calls it Removing Deference to Prior USCIS Determinations of Eligibility (Docket No. USCIS-2026-0529). The provision at issue, 8 CFR 214.1(c)(5),...

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Canada Options for U.S. Employers: Intra-Company Transfers and the Global Talent Stream

U.S. employers that sponsor skilled foreign workers are watching several changes at once, including the proposed OPT fee and the October 8 announcement that Microsoft, Adobe, and others are suspended from PERM, which we cover separately. Some are asking whether part of a team could work from Canada. Here are the main...

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California Court Blocks $100,000 H-1B Fee Policies: What Employers Should Know

On September 30, 2026, a federal judge in the Northern District of California issued an order in Global Nurse Force v. Trump that stops federal agencies from carrying out the $100,000 H-1B payment requirement. This is the second court to block the policies behind the fee. In July we reported on...

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BREAKING H-1B UPDATE: Trump Renews $100,000 Payment Requirement and Adds Layoff-Related Scrutiny

President Trump signed two H-1B-related actions on September 18, 2026: a proclamation extending the $100,000 H-1B fee originally imposed in September 2025 for another 12 months, and a separate Executive Order directing agencies to weigh an employer's recent layoffs when reviewing its H-1B petitions. The fee extension takes effect at 12:01...

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Could Your Business Afford to Lose Key Foreign Workers Next Year? Why 2027 Planning Should Start With an Immigration Review

As employers turn to budgeting and headcount planning for 2027, there's a step worth adding to that process that doesn't usually make the list: a review of where your sponsored foreign national employees actually stand. This year alone has brought an unusual volume of change to employment-based immigration, and a number of...

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Green Card Interviews Delayed Worldwide as State Department Retrains Consular Staff

Applicants pursuing a green card through a U.S. embassy or consulate are running into an unexpected roadblock this fall. A State Department official confirmed on August 25, 2026, that immigrant visa interview appointments have been paused across posts worldwide so that consular officers can go through additional training — leaving many families...

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DHS Proposes New $103,265 H-1B Fee — Separate From (and On Top Of) the $100,000 Proclamation Payment

On August 24, 2026, DHS announced a proposed rule that would add a new $103,265 fee to all H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was published in the Federal Register on August 25, 2026. This is not the same as the $100,000...

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CBP Scrutiny of Remote H-1B Work During Travel: What the Abu Dhabi Preclearance Reports Reveal

A pattern reported by immigration attorneys earlier this year is worth flagging for any H-1B employer or employee who travels internationally while working remotely. Officers at the CBP preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi reportedly began asking H-1B travelers pointed questions about remote work performed while outside the United States, and in at...

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