Latest updates on EB-3 immigration policies and processing
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Sign inUSCIS finalized FY 2027 H-1B cap selections on March 31, 2026. Selected petitioners may file starting April 1 using the new Form I-129 edition. Overseas winners face a $100,000 fee under a Trump presidential proclamation.
The April 2026 Visa Bulletin brings significant advances for employment-based categories. EB-3 Worldwide and Mexico move forward 8 months in Final Action and become current in Dates for Filing. EB-2 Worldwide, Mexico, and Philippines also reach current status.
USCIS is resuming processing of some asylum applications, but stricter vetting measures remain in place. Travel bans from high-risk countries identified in Trump's presidential proclamation continue to apply.
Filipino nurses pursuing EB-3 visas share their US Embassy interview experience, providing insights into the consular processing stage for healthcare workers immigrating to the USA.
USCIS may blacklist applicants who attempt to game the H1B lottery through passport renewal, employer changes, or wage level manipulation, according to an official I-797C notice.
USCIS completed the FY2027 H-1B lottery on March 31, 2026, using a new weighted wage-level selection process for the first time. Selected employers have 90 days (April 1–June 30) to file petitions, with employment eligible from October 1, 2026.
USCIS has completed FY2027 H-1B initial registration selections, notifying petitioners via online accounts. Cap-subject petitions may be filed beginning April 1, 2026, using the new 02/27/26 Form I-129 edition.
The April 2026 Visa Bulletin showed a dramatic 10-month advance for EB-2 India while EB-3 India remained frozen, prompting debate about demand allocation, spillover mechanics, and what it means for backlogged applicants.
USCIS has completed the FY 2027 H-1B cap lottery and opened the filing window starting April 1, 2026. Employers must use new mandatory Form I-129 and face heightened scrutiny. DOL also proposes major prevailing wage changes affecting H-1B and PERM programs.
USCIS has issued an update on its enhanced screening and vetting procedures, reflecting stricter adjudication standards that may affect processing timelines for all employment-based applicants, including EB-3.
The US Department of State is expanding mandatory social media screening to additional nonimmigrant visa categories effective March 30, 2026. New categories include H-3, H-4 dependents, K-1/K-2, R-1/R-2, and others. Applicants must set accounts public and disclose all handles used in the past 5 years.
USCIS clarifies EB-5 petition processing procedures as H1B lottery selection concludes. Immigration Daily covers key updates affecting employment-based applicants in April 2026.
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