Immigration Rules Tracker

Accreditation and Approval of Bennett Testing Service, Inc. (Rahway, NJ), as a Commercial Gauger and Laboratory

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that Bennett Testing Service, Inc. (Rahway, NJ), has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next three years as of August 28, 2025.

Eliminating the Discretionary 60-Day Grace Period

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to remove regulations at 8 CFR 214.1(l)(2) to restore its previous and long- standing policy of not providing aliens in certain nonimmigrant classifications (and their dependents) with an up to 60-day grace period upon cessation of employment prior to the expiration of the alien's authorized period of stay. This proposal restores a direct relationship between an alien's nonimmigrant status and the specific employment or activ...

Who this affects: H-1B specialty workers · Other nonimmigrants who currently get a 60-day grace period after job loss (L-1, O, TN, and similar)

Registration of Lawful Permanent Residence for Children Born to Foreign Government Employees in the United States

Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is amending its regulations to permit children born in the United States to "foreign government employees" who are not U.S. citizens to register for permanent residence. DHS is also making corresponding changes to Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status and Form G-325R, Biographic Information (Registration).

Who this affects: Green-card / I-485 applicants

Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee

The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (Committee) will hold its quarterly meeting on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, virtually. The meeting will be open to the public via webinar only.

Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Electronic Export Manifest for Rail Cargo

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is revising its regulations pursuant to the Trade Act of 2002 requiring the transmission of export manifest data electronically in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) for cargo transported by rail for any train departing the United States. This rule mandates the electronic transmission of rail export manifest information, identifies the parties eligible to transmit information, and describes the time frames prior to departure in...

Fee for Certain H-1B Petitions

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to establish a $103,265 fee, payable at the time of filing, for all H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, which would be imposed in addition to all other applicable fees or payments. This fee would serve as a dedicated revenue mechanism to help recover a portion of the federal government's costs of administering the lawful immigration system, including activities carried out b...

Who this affects: H-1B specialty workers · U.S. employers filing H-1B petitions · People paying USCIS / DHS filing fees

Establishment of Four Customs-Enforcement Areas

This document sets forth the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) declaration establishing four Customs- Enforcement Areas (CEA) in the near shore waters of South Florida, Central/Southern California, Puerto Rico, and the Gulf Coast of Texas. This action will further CBP efforts to interdict hovering vessels utilized for smuggling illegal cargoes into or out of the United States specifically within the CEAs. Additionally, this action authorizes customs o...

Inflation Adjustment for EOIR OBBBA Fees; Fiscal Year 2027

The Department of Justice ("Department") is making inflationary adjustments to immigration-related fees for filings with the Executive Office for Immigration Review ("EOIR") as required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act for Fiscal Year ("FY") 2027.

Genealogy Program Regulations To Clarify the Impact of Federal Records Requirements

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to amend its regulation governing genealogy program related records requests to revise its genealogy program regulations to clarify the impact of statutory and regulatory federal records requirements. This is necessary for individuals who request immigration records through the agency's genealogy program to better understand which records may be requested.

Accuracy of Importer of Record Data Submitted to CBP

This document notifies the public that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is taking initial steps to implement Executive Order 14411 "Strengthening Customs Enforcement." CBP is executing enhanced enforcement procedures to verify the accuracy of the information provided by new and existing importers of record on the CBP Form 5106, consistent with Executive Order 14411 and governing statutes. Importers of Record (IORs), or customs brokers providing information on the IOR'...

Imposition of Import Restrictions on Categories of Archaeological and Ethnological Material of Nepal

This document amends U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to reflect the imposition of import restrictions on certain archaeological and ethnological material from the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal (Nepal). These restrictions are imposed pursuant to an agreement between the United States and Nepal, entered into under the authority of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act. This document amends the CBP regulations by adding Nepal to the l...

Adjudication of Civil Penalties Against International Marriage Brokers

This interim final rule ("IFR") amends Department of Justice ("Department") regulations to specify the procedures for adjudicating alleged violations of the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005 ("IMBRA") by international marriage brokers ("IMBs") doing business in the United States that fail to provide required information to persons recruited for matchmaking services or that improperly disclose prohibited information. This IFR is necessary to deter fraudulent...

Mandatory Electronic Filing (e-Filing)

This interim final rule (IFR) amends U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations to provide: USCIS may require mandatory electronic filing (e-filing) of certain benefit requests; the process USCIS will follow to require a benefit request to be e-filed; and how a waiver of the e-filing requirement for those individuals unable to file electronically may be requested. This rule is intended to increase digital intake and processing to move USCIS and requestors from a m...

Regulatory Changes Required by the Energy Security and Lightering Independence Act of 2022

The Energy Security and Lightering Independence Act of 2022 amended the nonimmigrant classifications for aliens in transit (C) and for aliens serving as crewmen (D) to include individuals who perform ship-to-ship liquid cargo transfer operations to or from another vessel engaged in foreign trade (lightering). The statute authorizes qualifying aliens to seek admission to the United States or request temporary landing permits for a period not to exceed 180 days. This rule amend...

9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee for H-1B and L-1 Visas

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending the regulations concerning the 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee for certain H-1B and L-1 Visas (9-11 Biometric Fee). The regulatory changes correct DHS's interpretation of statutory language to require that covered employers submit the 9-11 Biometric Fee for all extension of status petitions, regardless of whether the related fraud prevention and detection fee applies, which includes extension of status petitions...

Who this affects: H-1B specialty workers · L-1 intracompany transferees · People traveling or entering the U.S. · People paying USCIS / DHS filing fees · U.S. employers filing H-1B petitions