EB-3 Immigration Blog
Weekly immigration insights for EB-3 applicants, compiled from the latest news
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 USCIS rescinded its 2022 Public Charge rule — expanding officer discretion for I-485 filers starting September 18 — while the July Visa Bulletin delivered broad forward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.
EB-3 Weekly Briefing: June 29 – July 5, 2026
A Rhode Island federal court struck down USCIS's blanket adjudication pause for 39 countries, potentially unblocking thousands of stalled I-485 cases — but the government may appeal. Meanwhile, a Supreme Court ruling reshaped TPS work authorization for seven countries, and new OFLC prevailing wage data went live, affecting PERM filings starting now.
EB-3 Week in Review: June 22–28, 2026 — Visa Bulletin Jumps, I-485 Policy Shock
The July 2026 Visa Bulletin delivers the biggest EB-3 advance in months, moving most countries forward two months — but a sweeping USCIS policy memo now classifies I-485 adjustment of status as 'extraordinary relief,' reshaping how green card applications inside the U.S. are judged. Meanwhile, federal courts are actively pushing back on administration immigration policies, and PERM processing times have hit a sobering 501-day average.
EB-3 Weekly: Courts Reshape Immigration Rules (June 8–14, 2026)
Federal courts delivered a string of landmark rulings this week that could unfreeze thousands of stalled green card and work permit cases for nationals of 39 countries — while a new signature rule taking effect July 10 threatens to silently sink EB-3 filings that use DocuSign or electronic signatures. Meanwhile, persistent post-interview stalls and FBI background check holds continue to frustrate applicants whose cases appeared to be moving.
AOS Policy Shock: USCIS Memo Reframes Green Card Rules | May 25–31, 2026
USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199, issued May 21–22, 2026, sent shockwaves through the EB-3 community by recharacterizing adjustment of status (AOS) as 'extraordinary relief' — but DHS also clarified that most law-abiding applicants won't be forced to leave the country. This week we break down what the memo actually says, what the DHS clarification means for your case, a hard June 15 PERM deadline for transportation employers, and why social media is now part of your immigration file.
EB-3 Week May 18–24, 2026: AOS Policy Upheaval, Retrogression & Exemptions
USCIS dropped a policy bombshell this week with Memo PM-602-0199, reframing Adjustment of Status (I-485) as "extraordinary relief" and pushing most green card applicants toward consular processing abroad — a seismic shift for the entire EB-3 community. Simultaneously, India EB-2 exhausted all FY2026 visa numbers, and the June 2026 Visa Bulletin brought retrogression pressure for India, China, and the Philippines. Here is what changed, what remains uncertain, and what every EB-3 applicant needs to watch right now.