USCIS Ends Holds & EB-3 April 2026 Visa Bulletin Update: DOL Prevailing Wage Rule Changes

Immigration Daily's April 9 issue highlights several significant developments affecting employment-based immigration applicants. Chief among them is USCIS's decision to end holds on pending cases, a move that could accelerate adjudications for EB-3 and other employment-based preference categories that have been waiting in administrative queues. The Department of Labor's prevailing wage rule has received a new price tag, with updated guidance redefining compensation thresholds for H-1B and PERM labor certification filings. This change directly impacts EB-3 petitioners and their sponsoring employers, as prevailing wage determinations form the foundation of the PERM process required for most EB-3 green card applications. EB-5 investor immigration continues to show evolving trendlines in early 2026, reflecting shifts in regional center activity, investment thresholds, and demand from various source countries. While EB-5 is a separate preference category from EB-3, macroeconomic trends in investor visas often signal broader employment-based immigration policy directions. For EB-3 applicants, the end of USCIS holds is particularly noteworthy, as it may reduce wait times for I-140 approvals and associated adjustment of status filings. Petitioners and their attorneys are advised to monitor their case statuses closely and respond promptly to any USCIS correspondence following this policy shift. Applicants should consult with qualified immigration counsel to assess how the updated DOL prevailing wage determinations may affect pending or planned PERM filings, and to take advantage of any case momentum created by the lifting of administrative holds.