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News & policy tracker

What's changing in U.S. immigration

The policy tracker is a running list of U.S. immigration rules, fee changes, policy memos, court orders and Visa Bulletin moves. Each entry shows who it affects, whether it is in effect, and a link to the official source. Filter by topic, or use the rule checker to see whether a change affects you.

Updated
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14 changes shown · Status as of October 28, 2026

  1. Announced Green cards

    November Visa Bulletin moves EB-2 and EB-3 Rest of World dates partly forward

    The November 2026 Visa Bulletin advances the EB-2 Rest of World final action date to April 1, 2025 and EB-3 to June 15, 2024. Both remain behind where they stood before October. The dates for filing are unchanged from October.

    Who it affects: Employment green card applicants with PERM or NIW cases

    Official source: U.S. Department of State: Visa Bulletin for November 2026Visa Bulletin →Visa Bulletin tracker →PERM labor certification →

  2. Proposed Lottery

    House bill introduced to end the green card lottery

    H.R. 10896 would terminate the Diversity Visa program. It was introduced in the House on October 22, 2026 and referred to the Judiciary Committee. It is a proposal only and does not change the lottery unless Congress passes it and it is signed into law.

    Who it affects: Diversity Visa lottery entrants and selectees

    Official source: Congress.gov: H.R. 10896, 119th CongressGreen card lottery (DV) →Policy tracker →

  3. In effect Fees

    USCIS fees rise for asylum, parole, work permits and TPS

    USCIS raised several fees set by H.R. 1 for inflation, effective for filings postmarked on or after October 16, 2026. The annual asylum fee went from $102 to $105, initial asylum, parole and TPS work permits from $560 to $570, the TPS fee from $510 to $520, and the parole fee from $1,020 to $1,050. Filings with the old amount may be rejected.

    Who it affects: Asylum applicants, parolees, TPS applicants and holders

    Official source: Federal Register: Fiscal Year 2027 Inflation Adjustment to H.R. 1 Immigration Fees (Oct. 1, 2026)USCIS fees →Fee calculator →Asylum →

  4. Court order Lottery

    Court orders DV-2027 lottery registration to open; government appeals

    A federal judge in San Diego ordered the State Department to reopen the DV-2027 program, with registration set to open by November 1, 2026 for 30 days and selectees notified by December 3. The government has appealed and asked for the order to be paused. As of October 28, registration has not opened.

    Who it affects: People who want to enter the DV-2027 lottery

    Official source: Red Eagle Law, L.C. v. Rubio, No. 3:26-cv-04738 (S.D. Cal.), court docketGreen card lottery (DV) →Avoid immigration scams →Official visa sites →

  5. In effect Green cards

    EB-2 and EB-3 Rest of World final action dates move back

    The October 2026 Visa Bulletin ended current status for EB-2 Rest of World, setting a final action date of January 1, 2025. EB-3 Rest of World moved back from September 1, 2024 to May 15, 2024. For October, USCIS accepts employment-based I-485 filings using the dates for filing chart.

    Who it affects: Employment green card applicants from countries other than China and India

    Official source: U.S. Department of State: Visa Bulletin for October 2026Visa Bulletin →Visa Bulletin tracker →PERM labor certification →

  6. In effect Courts

    Immigration court and BIA filing fees rise

    Fees for appeals, motions and some relief applications in immigration court rose for inflation on October 1, 2026. For example, an appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals went from $1,030 to $1,060 and cancellation of removal for non-permanent residents (EOIR-42B) from $1,640 to $1,690.

    Who it affects: People in immigration court or appealing to the BIA

    Official source: Federal Register: Inflation Adjustment for EOIR OBBBA Fees; Fiscal Year 2027 (Aug. 21, 2026)Detention & deportation help →Free legal help →USCIS fees →

  7. No registration Lottery

    DV-2027 lottery year began with no registration and no winners

    The State Department never opened registration for the DV-2027 lottery, so the visa year began on October 1, 2026 with no selectees. In November 2025 the Department said it was changing the entry process and would announce dates later. A court has since ordered registration to open.

    Who it affects: Diversity Visa lottery entrants

    Official source: U.S. Department of State: Changes to 2027 DV Program Entry PeriodGreen card lottery (DV) →Avoid immigration scams →

  8. Court order Work

    Second court blocks the $100,000 H-1B fee, including its 2027 extension

    A federal judge in Northern California blocked the agency policies that carry out the $100,000 H-1B payment, under both the 2025 proclamation and its 2026 extension, until the agencies go through notice-and-comment rulemaking. The government appealed to the Ninth Circuit on October 9, 2026.

    Who it affects: Employers filing new H-1B petitions for workers outside the U.S.

    Official source: Global Nurse Force v. Trump, No. 4:25-cv-08454 (N.D. Cal.), court docketThe $100,000 H-1B fee →H-1B visa →For employers →

  9. Court order Work

    New proclamation extends the $100,000 H-1B fee to September 2027

    Proclamation 11069, signed September 18, 2026, extends the $100,000 H-1B entry restriction for 12 more months, to September 21, 2027. Court orders still block collection, so the extension has no practical effect for now.

    Who it affects: Employers filing new H-1B petitions for workers outside the U.S.

    Official source: Federal Register: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers (Proclamation 11069)The $100,000 H-1B fee →H-1B visa →H-1B lottery →

  10. In effect Green cards

    2022 public charge rule rescinded; revised I-485 required

    A DHS final rule published July 20, 2026 rescinded the 2022 public charge rule as of September 18, 2026. Officers now have broader discretion and may weigh a wider range of means-tested benefits received on or after that date. Green card applications filed on or after September 18 must use the revised Form I-485. Two lawsuits challenging the rule were filed in New York; no court had blocked it as of October 28.

    Who it affects: Green card applicants, especially family-based applicants

    Official source: USCIS: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Rescinds 2022 Public Charge RegulationFamily green cards →Marriage green card →Adjustment of status vs. consular processing →

  11. Proposed Work

    DHS proposes a $103,265 fee on new cap-subject H-1B petitions

    In a proposed rule published August 25, 2026, DHS would charge $103,265 on each cap-subject H-1B petition filed in calendar year 2027. Cap-exempt employers, extensions and changes of employer would be exempt. The comment period ended September 24, 2026; the fee is not in effect.

    Who it affects: Employers registering for the H-1B lottery

    Official source: Federal Register: Fee for Certain H-1B Petitions (proposed rule)H-1B lottery →H-1B visa →The $100,000 H-1B fee →

  12. In effect Green cards

    Officers may deny without first sending an RFE or NOID

    A USCIS policy update issued August 5, 2026 lets officers deny a filing without first sending a request for evidence or notice of intent to deny when required initial evidence is missing or eligibility is not shown. It took effect immediately and applies to pending and new filings. Officers may also set shorter response deadlines.

    Who it affects: Anyone filing with USCIS

    Official source: USCIS Policy Alert: Evidentiary Standards (Aug. 5, 2026)USCIS notices explained →Notice decoder →Deadline calculator →

  13. Court order Work

    $100,000 H-1B fee blocked by court order; appeal pending

    A federal court in Massachusetts set aside the policy carrying out the $100,000 H-1B payment on June 8, 2026, then briefly paused its own ruling. On July 24, 2026 the First Circuit refused the government's request to pause the ruling, so the fee is not being collected while the appeal continues.

    Who it affects: Employers filing new H-1B petitions for workers outside the U.S.

    Official source: U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, order in No. 26-1699 (July 24, 2026)The $100,000 H-1B fee →H-1B visa →For employers →

  14. Court order Humanitarian

    Court strikes down four USCIS policies that froze or reopened cases

    On June 5, 2026 a federal court in Rhode Island set aside four USCIS policies: a global hold on asylum decisions, a hold on benefits for nationals of 39 travel-ban countries, a re-review of past approvals for those nationals, and guidance treating their nationality as a negative factor. USCIS said it would treat the policies as not in effect. The government appealed. On August 14, 2026, the First Circuit (No. 26-1703) paused the ruling only as to the comprehensive re-review policy and refused to pause it for the other policies under appeal.

    Who it affects: Asylum applicants and nationals of the 39 travel-ban countries with USCIS cases

    Official source: National Law Review: Federal Court Vacates USCIS Benefits Hold Affecting Applicants From 39 CountriesAsylum →Humanitarian & urgent help →USCIS notices explained →

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Get updatesDoes this new rule affect me?

How to read the tracker: in effect, court order, proposed

In effect means the change applies now. Court order means a court has blocked, paused or required something, and the situation can change quickly on appeal. Proposed means a draft rule that is not yet law. Announced means an agency has said it will happen on a set date.

We add new items as they happen and update statuses when courts or agencies act. Each item links to the official Federal Register notice, agency announcement or court record where available. For the details behind major entries, see our guides to USCIS fees, the $100,000 H-1B fee, TPS and the Visa Bulletin. Use our rule checker to see which changes may affect you, and get updates by email.

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Frequently asked questions

How often is the policy tracker updated?

We review official sources, including the Federal Register, USCIS and State Department announcements and court dockets, several times a week and update the tracker when something changes. The date at the top shows when the list was last checked. For anything that affects your case, open the linked official source as well.

Does a court order mean a rule is gone?

Not necessarily. Court orders can block a rule for everyone, for certain people, or only in certain places, and they can be paused or reversed on appeal. Read the official source and our related guide before relying on a court order.

What is the difference between a proposed rule and a final rule?

A proposed rule is a draft that an agency publishes in the Federal Register to collect public comments. It has no legal effect. A final rule is published after the comment period, responds to comments and states an effective date. Only a final rule that has taken effect, and has not been blocked by a court, changes what applicants must do.

Where can I read the official text of a new immigration rule?

Rules and notices are published in the Federal Register at federalregister.gov, which lists the effective date and comment deadlines. USCIS posts alerts and updated fee schedules on uscis.gov, the State Department posts visa news on travel.state.gov, and court orders appear on official court dockets. Each tracker entry links to the most direct official source available.

Official sources

  1. Federal Register – Immigration
  2. USCIS – Alerts

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Policy

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Forms & basics

USCIS fees

Current USCIS, immigration court and visa fees in one table, including October 2026 increases.

H-1B

The $100,000 H-1B fee

Status of the $100,000 H-1B payment as of October 2026: court orders, appeals, who it would apply to, and what employers should do now.

Immigration options

Green card lottery (DV)

The court order reopening DV-2027 registration, who can enter, the $1 fee, photo rules and how to spot lottery scams.

Employment green cards

Visa Bulletin

How to read the monthly Visa Bulletin, with November 2026 employment and family dates for the most backlogged countries.