EB-3 Immigration Blog
Weekly immigration insights for EB-3 applicants, compiled from the latest news
EB-3 Retrogresses as FY2027 Opens: Sept 28 – Oct 4, 2026
The October 2026 Visa Bulletin kicked off FY2027 with EB-3 priority date retrogression for most worldwide applicants, while USCIS announced inflation-based fee increases under H.R. 1. Meanwhile, a federal court ruling that vacated a 75-country visa ban is reshaping consular pipelines, and an unusual wave of USCIS administrative closure notices is hitting older EAD and I-485J filings.
EB-3 Week in Review: Sep 14–20, 2026 — Public Charge Shock, PERM Freeze & Grace Period Fight
A week of seismic policy shifts for EB-3 applicants: USCIS overhauled the public charge rule effective September 18, the DOL froze PERM filings from major IT firms amid a fraud probe, and a proposed elimination of the H-1B 60-day grace period is drawing fierce public opposition. If you have an I-485 in progress or are in H-1B status pursuing a green card, this week's developments demand your attention.
EB-3 Week Sept 7–13, 2026: Public Charge Deadline, No-RFE Denials & Spillover Hope
A sweeping new public charge rule takes effect in six days, USCIS's no-RFE denial policy is producing real-world casualties one month in, and two court victories have finally begun reopening immigrant visa processing frozen since January. Meanwhile, the October 2026 Visa Bulletin is generating unusual optimism — and a potential 100,000-visa FY2027 spillover could reshape India EB-3 prospects.
Consular Pause, Form Overhaul & FY2026 Visa Warning: Aug 31–Sep 6
A global halt on immigrant visa interviews, sweeping changes to Form I-864 including new credit checks, and a State Department warning that EB-1 India and EB-2 visa numbers could run out before September 30 made this one of the most consequential weeks of 2026. EB-3 applicants in both the consular processing and adjustment of status pipelines are facing immediate, time-sensitive deadlines.
EB-3 Update: August 24–30, 2026 — Visa Freeze, Court Win & Form Deadline
The State Department suspended all immigrant visa interviews globally this week — just days after a federal court struck down its 75-country visa ban — creating cascading uncertainty for EB-3 applicants pursuing consular processing abroad. The September 2026 Visa Bulletin showed zero movement in EB-3 employment-based dates, with India remaining frozen at January 1, 2014. A mandatory Form I-485 update takes effect September 18, and a proposed bill would bring premium processing to PERM labor certifications for the first time.
75-Country Visa Ban Struck Down: EB-3 Digest, Aug 17–23, 2026
A federal judge vacated the Trump administration's sweeping 75-country immigrant visa ban this week, potentially unblocking thousands of stalled EB-3 cases at U.S. consulates. Meanwhile, a hard September 18 deadline looms for Form I-485 filers as USCIS rolls out a new form edition tied to expanded public charge rules. The September 2026 Visa Bulletin held steady with no EB-3 movement, but a retrogression warning from the State Department signals potential turbulence ahead.
EB-3 Week in Review: August 10–16, 2026 — No-RFE Policy, Visa Bulletin Gains & E-Filing
This week brought seismic procedural changes for EB-3 applicants: USCIS is now denying petitions outright without issuing Requests for Evidence, a shift that demands flawless filings from day one. Meanwhile, the August Visa Bulletin delivered steady forward movement for Rest of World applicants — even as a 67% surge in pending I-485 cases signals tightening queues ahead. A new Public Charge rule taking effect September 18 adds another layer of complexity for applicants using government benefits.
Public Charge Reversal, Visa Gains & PERM Overhaul: July 13–19, 2026
This was one of the most consequential weeks for EB-3 applicants in recent memory. USCIS rescinded its 2022 Public Charge rule — expanding officer discretion for I-485 filers starting September 18 — while the July Visa Bulletin delivered broad forward movement led by China's dramatic 5-month surge. The Department of Labor also signaled the first major PERM overhaul since 2004, and the FY2027 H-1B cap officially closed, redirecting employer focus toward employment-based green card pathways.
EB-3 Week in Review: July 6–12, 2026 — PERM Upheaval, TPS Crisis & AOS Shifts
This week delivered a triple shock to the employment-based immigration landscape: the Supreme Court's June 25 ruling in Mullin v. Doe triggered emergency July 10 work permit expirations for 350,000 TPS holders, the DOL announced its first PERM overhaul in over 20 years while simultaneously launching a nationwide fraud investigation with dozens of subpoenas already issued, and a May 2026 USCIS policy memo continues to reshape how Adjustment of Status applications are evaluated. If you're in the EB-3 pipeline — or your employer sponsors EB-3 workers — this was not a quiet week.