https://h1b-life.com/ Rules, proclamations, court rulings and bills affecting H-1B workers and green card applicants. en-us https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/14/2026-20955/removal-of-automatic-extensions-for-certain-employment-authorization-documentspolicy-2026-10-14-DHS Final Rule Ending Automatic EAD ExteWed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTFinal rule published — DHS has finalized an interim final rule that ends automatic validity extensions for Employment Authorization Documents across certain renewal categories. The rule responds to public comments and permanently enforces the policy to enhance vetting and screening before granting new employment authorization. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/14/2026-20941/removing-deference-to-prior-uscis-determinations-of-eligibilitypolicy-2026-10-14-Proposed Rule to Remove Deference for PrWed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTProposed; comments open — DHS proposes removing regulations that generally require USCIS to give deference to prior approvals involving the same facts for employment extensions. This change aims to strengthen adjudicatory review and place the full burden of proving eligibility on the petitioner. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/08/2026-20660/optional-practical-training-feespolicy-2026-10-08-Proposed New Fees for F-1 Optional PractThu, 08 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTProposed Rule — This rule proposes new fees for Optional Practical Training to combat fraud and protect U.S. workers. The proposed fees are $70,000 for initial OPT and $30,000 for any subsequent OPT. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/08/microsoft-adobe-green-card-labor-suspension.htmlpolicy-2026-10-08-Labor Department suspends 8 employers frThu, 08 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTAnnounced; no written notice yet — At a White House press conference, Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said the Department of Labor will not accept new, or process pending, PERM labor certifications involving Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini, citing federal investigations (allegations, not findings). No end date or Federal Register notice has been published. H-1B status is not directly affected; approved I-140s generally keep their priority date. See our explainer: https://h1b-life.com/explainers/perm-suspension-eight-employers/ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/01/2026-20187/fiscal-year-2027-inflation-adjustment-to-hr-1-immigration-feespolicy-2026-10-01-USCIS Announces FY 2027 Inflation AdjustThu, 01 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTFinal rule; effective date in document — USCIS is announcing inflationary adjustments to immigration-related fees administered under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) for Fiscal Year 2027. This notice outlines the newly adjusted fees and their effective date as mandated by H.R. 1. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/23/2026-19555/enhancing-program-integrity-and-interagency-coordination-in-the-administration-of-the-h-1bpolicy-2026-09-23-Presidential Action on H-1B Program InteWed, 23 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMTPresidential document published — The President issued a document focused on enhancing program integrity and interagency coordination within the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program. No further text or abstract was provided in the official notice. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/23/2026-19554/restriction-on-entry-of-certain-nonimmigrant-workerspolicy-2026-09-23-Entry Restrictions on Certain NonimmigraWed, 23 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMTPresidential action issued — The presidential document establishes restrictions on the entry of certain nonimmigrant workers into the United States. Further operational details are specified within the issued presidential document. https://www.diraimondoschroeder.com/updates/2026/9/21/trump-administration-extends-100000-h-1b-proclamation-through-september-2027-but-fee-remains-blocked-by-court-orderpolicy-2026-09-18-$100,000 H-1B fee proclamation extended Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMTFee still blocked by court order https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/11/2026-18631/eliminating-the-discretionary-60-day-grace-periodpolicy-2026-09-11-DHS proposes ending the 60-day grace perFri, 11 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMTProposed, not final — DHS proposes to remove 8 CFR 214.1(l)(2), which gives H-1B and certain other workers (and their dependents) up to 60 days after their job ends to find a new sponsor, change status or leave. It is only a proposal: the current 60-day grace period still applies until a final rule takes effect. Comments are open until November 10, 2026. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/10/C1-2026-17324/fee-for-certain-h-1b-petitionspolicy-2026-09-10-Proposed Rule on Fees for Certain H-1B PThu, 10 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMTProposed rule — The federal government published a proposed rule concerning fees for certain H-1B petitions. No further details or abstract were provided in the document notice. https://www.rnlawgroup.com/will-trump-eliminate-the-h-4-ead-what-the-new-2026-regulatory-agenda-really-means/policy-2026-09-02-H-4 EAD rescission listed on DHS regulatWed, 02 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMTNo proposed rule yet https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/25/2026-17324/fee-for-certain-h-1b-petitionspolicy-2026-08-25-Proposed $103,265 Fee for Cap-Subject H-Tue, 25 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMTProposed, not final — DHS proposes establishing an additional $103,265 fee payable at the time of filing for all cap-subject H-1B petitions, including those for advanced degree exemptions. This proposed fee would help recover federal costs incurred by DHS, DOJ, DOS, and DOL in administering the lawful immigration system. https://www.cato.org/commentary/employment-based-immigration-backlog-exceeds-12-million-peoplepolicy-2026-08-15-NFAP: Indian employment-based backlog neSat, 15 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMTAnnual update https://www.diraimondoschroeder.com/updates/2026/9/21/trump-administration-extends-100000-h-1b-proclamation-through-september-2027-but-fee-remains-blocked-by-court-orderpolicy-2026-07-24-First Circuit declines to pause the ruliFri, 24 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMTAppeal decision pending https://www.cupahr.org/resource/federal-court-vacates-h-1b-visa-fee-policy/policy-2026-06-08-Federal court in Massachusetts vacates tMon, 08 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMTIn effect https://www.bakerlaw.com/insights/uscis-implements-wagelevel-h1b-lottery/policy-2026-03-01-First wage-weighted H-1B lottery (FY2027Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMTSelection statistics pending https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/29/2025-23853/weighted-selection-process-for-registrants-and-petitioners-seeking-to-file-cap-subject-h-1bpolicy-2026-02-27-Weighted selection final rule takes effeFri, 27 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMTLitigation watch https://berardiimmigrationlaw.com/h-1b-visa-stamping-in-india-current-rules-wait-times-and-what-to-expect-in-2026/policy-2025-12-15-Expanded social-media vetting for H-1B/HMon, 15 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMTSee stamping tracker https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/uscis-implements-h1b-100000-fee/policy-2025-09-19-Original proclamation imposing a $100,00Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:00:00 GMTSuperseded by the 2026 extension