US Federal

2026-2027 COD Technical Reference Published

The U.S. Department of Education has published the 2026-2027 Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) Technical Reference. This document provides development information for the upcoming award year and details amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 made by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

EDExpress 2025-26 Release 2.0 Service Update Available

The U.S. Department of Education has released an update for its EDExpress software for the 2025-26 award year. Release 2.0 is now available for download, providing necessary program updates for institutions participating in federal student aid programs.

USCIS Updates VAWA Program Integrity Guidance

USCIS has updated its Policy Manual guidance for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) program to restore program integrity and combat fraud. The changes clarify eligibility requirements and evidence expectations for self-petitioners, particularly in response to increased filings from non-traditional demographics and recent fraud convictions.

DHS, DOJ Rule on Asylum Eligibility for Security and Health Risks

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) have issued a final rule, effective December 31, 2025, that withdraws certain outdated amendments from a 2020 rule. This action retains the ability to consider public health risks as a security bar to asylum and withholding of removal during public health emergencies.

USCIS to Increase Premium Processing Fees Due to Inflation

USCIS is increasing fees for premium processing services to account for inflation, as authorized by the USCIS Stabilization Act. The new fees, effective March 1, 2026, will help fund adjudication and naturalization services. Specific fee increases are detailed for various petition and application types.

FY 2027 H-1B Cap Registration Period and New Selection Process

USCIS announced the FY 2027 H-1B cap initial registration period will be from March 4 to March 19, 2026. A new final rule implements a weighted selection process prioritizing higher-skilled and higher-paid aliens to protect American workers' wages and job opportunities.

H-2B Visa Cap Reached for Returning Workers FY 2026

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that the cap has been reached for the first allocation of returning worker H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2026. The agency received more petitions than available visas and used a random selection process for petitions received between February 2 and February 6, 2026.

USCIS Policy Update for VAWA Self-Petitioners

USCIS has updated its Policy Manual with new guidance for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitioners. The update clarifies eligibility requirements, evidence expectations, and adjudication standards, aiming to streamline the process and reduce RFEs. This guidance is effective immediately.

USCIS Policy Clarifies VAWA Confidentiality Provisions

USCIS issued policy guidance clarifying the applicability of VAWA confidentiality provisions (8 U.S.C. 1367(a)(1) and (a)(2)). This update revises how USCIS handles information related to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes seeking immigration relief, and resolves technical errors in safe address procedures.

J-1 Visa for Exchange Visitors - Purpose and Background

This document outlines the purpose and background of the J-1 visa for exchange visitors, detailing its creation by Congress to promote cultural and educational exchanges. It explains the roles of the U.S. Department of State and USCIS in administering the program and the historical context of the two-year foreign residence requirement.