Missed out on the H-1B lottery, or planning ahead? Meltzer Hellrung’s March webinar breaks down practical, strategic alternatives for employers and foreign nationals navigating next steps. From F-1/OPT and TN visas to O-1 and treaty-based options like E-3 and H-1B1, the session highlights viable pathways to maintain work authorization and retain global talent. It also […]
Employers who relied on pandemic-era flexibilities for Form I-9 verification should be aware of an important upcoming compliance deadline: March 31, 2026. The deadline represents a final opportunity to review and correct Forms I-9 completed using remote document inspection during COVID-19. With worksite enforcement continuing to increase, employers with remote or hybrid workforces during this period should take proactive steps now to ensure compliance and […]
The adjudication of U.S. immigration petitions and application is undergoing a structural shift—one driven less by statutory change and more by technology, data integration, and artificial intelligence. USCIS is expanding its use of AI tools, while immigration agencies are increasingly operating within a shared, interconnected data environment. For employers, this evolution has significant implications: immigration compliance is no longer limited to […]
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently released a revised Form I-129 that will become mandatory for all filings beginning April 1, 2026. USCIS will accept both the prior edition and the new edition through March 31, 2026, but petitions submitted on older versions after April 1 will be rejected. The timing is particularly important […]
Canada Update Canada recently enacted a significant change to its citizenship laws that could dramatically expand eligibility for Canadian citizenship by descent. The reform removes a long-standing limitation that previously prevented many individuals born outside Canada from inheriting citizenship from their Canadian parents or grandparents. The change may allow millions of individuals, particularly those in […]
The April 2026 Visa Bulletin shows limited movement across the EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 Dates for Filing categories, with most classifications remaining stable compared to March. Notable progress is seen in EB-2 and EB-3 for India, while EB-3 “Rest of World” and Mexico advance to current, signaling improved filing eligibility for those categories. The chart […]
For HR and Global Mobility professionals managing H-1B cap registrations, there are several things you can count on every year: tight timelines, employee anxiety and technical glitches in the registration system. The FY 2027 H-1B cap registration period has already demonstrated this familiar pattern. Within the first few days of the registration window opening, users reported a variety of technical issues with the myUSCIS system […]
Key Information for HR and Global Mobility Teams Recent developments in the Middle East have significantly disrupted U.S. consular services across the region. Following a security alert issued by U.S. Department of State (DOS) on February 28, 2026, several U.S. embassies have closed temporarily, suspended routine services, or limited operations to emergency assistance only. For […]
A proposed revision to prevailing wage methodology would substantially raise the required wage levels used in employment-based immigration filings that rely on Department of Labor (DOL) wage survey data. The proposal, which would primarily impact wage requirements for the H-1B, H-2B and PERM processes, cleared an important regulatory hurdle on February 20, 2026. Publication of […]