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USCIS recently published a new edition of Form G-1055, Fee Schedule, removing fee waiver eligibility for Form I-131 for certain nonimmigrants. Key Points: The new 07/14/25 form edition removes fee waiver eligibility for Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents,
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services received enough petitions to reach the mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa master’s cap (the U.S. advanced degree exemption) for fiscal year (FY) 2026. Key Points: USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions otherwise exempt
Update on applications received for requested date of need from April 1, 2025 (fiscal year (FY) 2025 second half of the visa cap): The Department of Labor reported that, as of July 12, a total of 8,893 cases were issued Final Decisions. Certified positions for this
The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Joseph Edlow as director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on July 15. The 52-47 vote was divided along party lines. As USCIS director, Edlow will play a key role in advancing President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda, stating at his
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will begin issuing invitations to apply under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) starting July 28, 2025. Key Points: As BAL reported, IRCC plans to accept up to 10,000 complete applications for sponsorship under
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services published guidance for employers regarding completion of the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, for certain beneficiaries of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Venezuela 2023 redesignation. Key Points: Beneficiaries of the TPS Venezuela 2023 redesignation who received certain TPS-related documentation on or
The U.S. State Department released the August 2025 Visa Bulletin. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced filings for employment-based visa preference categories must use the Final Action Dates chart in this bulletin. Final Action Dates for EB-2 visa country categories retrogressed
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) published the randomized assignment groups for H-2B visa applications submitted July 3–5, 2025, with a start date of Oct. 1, 2025. Key Points: The OFLC completed the randomization and assignment process on July 6 for all 2,421 H-2B applications
The State Department recently published the Report of the Visa Office 2024 showing a steady climb in both immigrant visa and nonimmigrant visa issuance in fiscal year (FY) 2024. According to the report, the State Department issued a total of 612,258 immigrant visas, an increase of
The reconciliation bill H.R.1, aka “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed into law on July 4, includes several immigration-related provisions, including new fees, as well as more than $140 billion allocated to border security and enforcement measures. Key Points: Titles IX and X include various immigration-related
The Department of Homeland Security announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for both Honduras and Nicaragua, effective Sept. 8, 2025. Key Points: The TPS designation for both Honduras and Nicaragua was set to expire on July 5, 2025, but
The Labor Department posted the latest processing times for permanent labor certification (PERM). As of July 1, the department was adjudicating PERM applications filed in March 2024 and earlier and reviewing appeals for reconsideration filed in May 2025 and earlier. These dates reflect the month and year
The Ministry of Labor, Immigration, Training and Skills Development made regulatory changes to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), enabling the program to better respond to labor market needs. Key Points: Changes to the OINP include: A new electronic Employer Portal for employers to
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a notice for a proposed rule to rescind several provisions from its April 29, 2024, final rule governing the H-2A visa program. Key Points: The proposed rule aims to reduce regulatory burdens on employers (e.g., unnecessary costs and
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued supplemental guidelines for Department Order No. 248 to provide more information, clarification and guidance on the issuance of Alien Employment Permits (AEP). Key Points: Department Order No. 248 was published earlier this year, introducing changes to the
The Italian government gave preliminary approval to a draft of the migration decree, approving 497,550 work visas to be made available for non-European workers from 2026 through 2028. Key Points: The migration decree, called Decreto Flussi, establishes how many non-European workers are allowed to enter Italy for work. The quotas
The Home Secretary introduced sweeping immigration reforms aimed at reducing net migration, tightening controls and prioritizing higher skills. Key Points: The measures, first introduced in the Immigration White Paper published earlier this year, include: Raising the skills threshold for
Employment and Social Development Canada announced an increase in the wage threshold under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, impacting whether an application for a Labor Market Impact Assessment is submitted under the high-wage stream or low-wage stream. Key Points: If the wage being offered to
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will only accept the Jan. 20, 2025, edition of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker starting July 30, 2025. Until July 30, petitioners can also use the Jan. 17, 2025, edition (edition dates are located at the bottom of