This Week in Immigration: September 25, 2026

U.S. Immigration News

Trump orders new H-1B scrutiny for employers with recent layoffs

President Trump has ordered federal agencies to consider employers’ recent or planned layoffs when reviewing H-1B filings. The new policy applies to labor condition applications, H-1B petitions, visa applications, and entry into the United States, with agencies directed to examine whether layoffs affect “similarly situated” U.S. workers. The Labor Department must also begin reviewing data from previously filed LCAs within 30 days. The administration has not yet explained exactly how the new requirements will be implemented.

Trump extends $100,000 H-1B fee policy

President Trump has extended for another year his administration’s policy requiring a $100,000 payment for certain H-1B petitions involving workers outside the United States. The extension runs through Sept. 21, 2027, but the fee remains blocked by the courts and is not currently being collected. A federal judge struck down the policy in June, and an appeals court later declined to reinstate it while the government’s appeal continues.

State Department expands social media vetting for visa applicants

The State Department is expanding its online presence reviews to additional visa categories beginning Oct. 1. Applicants for I visas for foreign media representatives and TN and TD visas for USMCA professionals and their dependents will be instructed to set all social media profiles to “public” or “open” for vetting. The reviews already apply to a broad range of visa categories, including F, J, H-1B, H-4, and K visas.

USCIS changes how it handles weekend filing deadlines

USCIS is changing how it treats certain immigration filing deadlines that fall on weekends or federal holidays. Starting Oct. 23, the agency will continue to allow some paper filings due within a specified number of days to arrive on the next business day. However, the extension will no longer apply to eligibility deadlines tied to a specific event, such as an applicant reaching a certain age. Applicants facing those cutoffs will need to make sure USCIS receives their filing before the eligibility period ends.

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