This week’s immigration updates include the FY 2027 H-1B cap being reached, new trends in EB-2 NIW RFEs, the August 2026 Visa Bulletin, a new expedited visa appointment pilot program, and DHS's security recap from FIFA World Cup 2026. Here’s a practical overview of what you should know. 👇

USCIS announced that it has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master's cap, for fiscal year 2027. USCIS will not conduct additional rounds of H-1B cap registration selections for FY 2027.

According to a recent AILA blog post, RFEs in the EB-2 National Interest Waiver space have arrived more frequently since USCIS updated its Policy Manual in January 2025. Officers are now focusing closely on how the proposed endeavor is defined, whether its impact extends beyond the employer, and whether the petitioner has concrete evidence of past results. The post also notes that USCIS now expects petitioners to establish the underlying EB-2 classification before reaching the waiver analysis.

The U.S. Department of State has released the August 2026 Visa Bulletin. Family-sponsored categories saw notable forward movement across several preferences. Employment-based movement was more limited, with DOS cautioning that retrogression or temporary unavailability may occur before the end of Fiscal Year 2026. Applicants should review the bulletin to determine whether their priority date has been affected.

The U.S. Department of State launched a Nonimmigrant Visa Expedited Appointment Pilot Program, effective July 1 through December 31, 2026. Eligible B-1/B-2 visa applicants may pay an additional $750 fee to secure a visa interview within 10 business days, subject to availability. The pilot is currently limited to U.S. missions in Mexico. The fee does not guarantee visa issuance or faster processing.

DHS released a statement on its security operations during FIFA World Cup 2026. Operations included more than 19,000 vehicle inspections at stadiums and fan festivals, seizure of more than 473,000 counterfeit FIFA merchandise items, and over 700 unauthorized drones seized jointly by DHS and FBI.

We are pleased to share two recent successes! Our firm obtained Employment Authorization Document (EAD) approvals for two clients, allowing them to work legally in the United States. We are proud to continue supporting our clients throughout their immigration journey.

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