This Week in Immigration: May 15, 2026

U.S. Immigration News

EU Reaches Agreement on Cross-Border Business Travel

The European Parliament and the EU Council reached a provisional agreement that will reduce the administrative burden surrounding short-term, cross-border business travel. The deal, announced on April 27, 2026, eliminates the need for an A1 certificate for companies operating across the European Union Single Market. The provisional agreement is expected to be ratified within the coming months.

State Department Reviewing All Mexican Consulates in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of State is reviewing all 53 Mexican consulates operating in the United States. The State Department says the review is to better align U.S. foreign policy with Trump administration priorities and that some consulates may be closed. Mexico has the largest consular network in the United States, providing legal support and document processing to millions of Mexican nationals living in the country.

Cloudera’s PERM Program Suspended for 180 Days

On May 12, 2026, citing irregularities in the recruitment process, the U.S. Department of Labor announced an enforcement action against AI company Cloudera. The DOL has suspended the processing of all PERM applications submitted by the company for 180 days. The government’s enforcement action comes after the filing of a lawsuit by the Department of Justice alleging Cloudera violated the Immigration and Nationality Act by unlawfully discriminating against American workers in favor of hiring foreign labor.

Venezuela Introduces Electronic System for Visa Applications

U.S. nationals applying for Business Visa (TR-N) or Tourist Visa (T) for travel to Venezuela must now complete the full process online. Visas approved under the new e-Visa platform will be issued in electronic format and sent by email to the applicant. This eliminates the previously required in-person appearance at a Venezuelan consulate. The new online process is expected to reduce visa processing times from six weeks to as few as 15 days.

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