2026-2027 COD Technical Reference and OBBBA Amendments

The U.S. Department of Education has posted a partial 2026-2027 Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) Technical Reference. This notice also addresses amendments from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that will become effective July 1, 2026, with preliminary information subject to change pending final rulemaking.

EDExpress Software Update for COD Country Code Reporting

The U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid has released an update for EDExpress 2025-26, Release 2.0. This update corrects an issue with reporting U.S. territory country codes to the COD System, ensuring proper data submission for students from these regions.

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(DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) have issued a final rule, effective December 31, 2025, that withdraws certain outdated amendments from a 2020 rule.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.

Pennsylvania Insurance Department Overview

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department provides an overview of its mission to protect consumers, license insurance professionals and companies, and regulate the insurance marketplace. The page highlights key services and programs, including assistance with health plan denials, surprise medical bills, and mental health parity.