Immigration Rules Tracker

Extension of Import Restrictions Imposed on Categories of Archaeological and Ethnological Material of Türkiye

This document amends U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to reflect an extension of import restrictions on certain categories of archaeological and ethnological material of the Republic of T[uuml]rkiye (T[uuml]rkiye), which were originally imposed by CBP Decision Number 21-09. The CBP regulations are being amended to reflect this extension through March 24, 2031.

Signatures on Immigration Benefit Requests

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending its regulations governing the submission of benefit requests to provide that if U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) accepts a benefit request and determines later that it lacks a valid signature, USCIS may, in its discretion, reject or deny the request. This interim final rule (IFR or rule) will clarify USCIS procedures relating to the rejection or denial of benefit requests that do not meet regulatory requir...

Who this affects: Naturalization applicants

Fee Adjustment for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Form I-246, Application for a Stay of Deportation or Removal

DHS proposes to increase the fee for adjudicating Form I-246, Application for a Stay of Deportation or Removal, from $155 to $755. The rule proposes to adjust the Form I-246 fee to recover costs, which has not been adjusted since 1989. DHS also proposes to make technical edits to the stay of deportation and removal fee regulation.

USCIS Immigration Fees and Related Procedures Required by H.R.1 Reconciliation Bill

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issues this interim final rule (IFR) to codify certain immigration fees and other provisions required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1). This IFR amends U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations to codify: the asylum and annual asylum fees, including the consequences of non-payment of these fees; the new Form I-94 fee requirement; the validity period for certain types of employment authorization; and t...

Who this affects: Asylum seekers and refugees · People paying USCIS / DHS filing fees

Extension of Emergency Import Restrictions Imposed on Archaeological and Ethnological Material of Afghanistan

This document amends U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to reflect an extension of emergency import restrictions on certain archaeological and ethnological material from Afghanistan, which were originally imposed in CBP Decision 22-04. The regulations are also being updated to refer specifically to the material being restricted in a manner consistent with CBP's other listed cultural property restrictions. The CBP regulations are being amended to reflect this...

Reducing Bureaucracy and Burden for Refugee Resettlement Programs

The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families rescinds obsolete provisions of the State Legalization Impact Assistance Grants regulations (45 CFR part 402). The Administration for Children and Families has undertaken a sweeping review aimed at eliminating outdated rules and reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens to streamline, simplify, and efficiently deregulate across multiple fronts simultaneously to better serve the public. The doc...

Who this affects: Asylum seekers and refugees

Improving Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Foreign Nationals in the United States

The Department of Labor (DOL or the Department) is issuing this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to solicit comments and public input regarding its proposal to revise Employment and Training Administration (ETA) regulations governing the prevailing wages for employment opportunities that United States (U.S.) employers seek to fill with alien workers on a permanent or temporary basis through certain EB-2 and EB-3 employment-based immigrant visas via the Permanent Labor Cer...

Who this affects: H-1B specialty workers · Green-card / I-485 applicants · U.S. employers filing H-1B petitions

Visas: Enhancing Vetting and Combatting Fraud in the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program

The Department of State ("Department") is amending regulations governing the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program ("DV Program") to improve the integrity of, and combat fraud in, the program. These amendments require a petitioner to the DV Program to provide valid, unexpired passport information and to upload a scan of the biographic and signature page in the electronic entry form or to otherwise indicate that he or she is exempt from this requirement. Additionally, the Departmen...

Who this affects: U.S. employers filing H-1B petitions · Green-card / I-485 applicants

Extension of Import Restrictions Imposed on Certain Archaeological and Ecclesiastical Ethnological Material of Colombia

This document amends U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to reflect an extension of import restrictions on certain categories of archaeological and ecclesiastical ethnological material of the Republic of Colombia, which were originally imposed in CBP Decision 06-09 and last extended by CBP Decision 21-05. The CBP regulations are being amended to reflect this extension through March 10, 2031.

Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer Electronic Filing

The Executive Office for Immigration Review ("EOIR") is implementing electronic filing and records applications for all cases before the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer ("OCAHO"). This interim final rule ("IFR") updates the relevant regulations necessary to implement these electronic filing and records applications, including by requiring certain users to file documents electronically and changing service of process methods. This IFR also includes several a...

Employment Authorization Reform for Asylum Applicants

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to modify regulations governing applications for asylum and withholding of removal (asylum applications) and employment authorization based on a pending asylum application. The proposed rule would change filing and eligibility requirements for aliens requesting employment authorization and an employment authorization document (EAD) based on a pending asylum application. The changes include pausing acceptance of EAD appli...

Who this affects: EAD / work-authorization holders · Asylum seekers and refugees

Housing and Community Development Act of 1980: Verification of Eligible Status

Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980, as amended ("Section 214"), prohibits the Secretary of HUD from making financial assistance available to persons other than United States citizens or certain categories of eligible noncitizens in HUD's public and specified assisted housing programs. This proposed rule would revise HUD's Section 214 implementing regulations to require the verification of U.S. citizenship or the eligible immigration status of all...

Who this affects: Naturalization applicants

Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Non-Domiciled Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDL)

FMCSA amends the Federal regulations for State Driver's Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) issuing commercial driving credentials to non-domiciled individuals. This final rule reaffirms, with minor changes, the provisions of the interim final rule (IFR) published on September 29, 2025. Specifically, this final rule limits eligibility for non-domiciled Commercial Learner's Permits (CLPs) and Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs) for foreign-domiciled individuals to those who hold specif...

Electronic Bond Transmission

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collects bonds from parties engaging in transactions or activities with CBP to adequately protect the revenue of the United States and ensure compliance with U.S. statutes and regulations. This document proposes to amend the CBP regulations to require that most bonds be transmitted to CBP electronically via a specialized system by the surety securing the bond, or by the principal on a bond secured by cash in lieu of surety. The changes...

Electronic Export Manifest for Vessel Cargo

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) proposes to amend its regulations to require the advance submission of electronic export manifest (EEM) information to CBP for cargo transported by vessel departing the United States. The proposed rule identifies the parties that would be eligible to transmit vessel EEM information and their responsibilities, and the time frames for transmission of the information prior to cargo loading or conveyance departure. Requiring advance transm...