FY 2027 H-1B Registration Opens; Yemen TPS Terminated; Supreme Court Limits Asylum Appeals

USCIS has opened the FY 2027 H-1B cap initial registration period, running from noon ET on March 4 through noon ET on March 19, 2026. Employers must submit electronic registrations through a USCIS online account and pay a $215 fee per beneficiary. Only selected registrants may proceed to a full petition filing, making early preparation and candidate prioritization critical. The Department of Homeland Security announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Yemen, effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. Employers with Yemeni TPS holders in their workforce should monitor the Federal Register publication date and prepare for I-9 reverification requirements. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Urias-Orellana v. Bondi (March 4, 2026) that courts of appeals must apply deferential 'substantial-evidence' review to agency persecution determinations under asylum law. This limits the ability to overturn negative asylum decisions on appeal, raising the stakes for thorough evidentiary records before Immigration Judges and the BIA. For EB-3 applicants and employers, the H-1B registration window is a near-term priority. While EB-3 is distinct from H-1B, many workers pursue dual-track strategies using H-1B status while awaiting EB-3 priority date advancement. Employers should also audit their workforce for Yemen TPS holders and assess downstream immigration pathways. The Supreme Court's asylum ruling has limited direct impact on EB-3 petitions but affects employees or dependents pursuing asylum-based relief concurrently. Employers with internationally mobile workforces should also review travel plans in light of updated State Department security guidance related to Middle East conflict conditions.