The Department of Homeland Security has proposed raising the filing fee for Form I-246, Application for a Stay of Deportation or Removal, from $155 to $755. This would be the first fee adjustment since 1989 if the rule is finalized.
New internal USCIS guidance instructs immigration officers not to approve any application that has not completed expanded FBI background checks. The requirement applies to pending applications involving fingerprint submission, including naturalization, permanent residency, and family-based sponsorship petitions.
U.S. persons must file an FBAR if the combined value of all foreign financial accounts exceeded $10,000 at any point during the calendar year, even if no individual account crossed that threshold alone. The requirement applies to Americans living abroad who hold foreign bank or financial accounts.
US citizens and residents who are self-employed abroad may be required to file Schedule SE to calculate self-employment tax, even if their income tax liability is reduced to zero through exclusions or credits. This obligation applies to freelancers, consultants, and others earning business income while living outside the US.
A U.S. District Court for the Southern District issued a stay on May 1, 2026, blocking the termination of Yemen's Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation, which had been scheduled to end on May 4, 2026. The termination had been ordered by the Secretary of Homeland Security, who determined Yemen no longer met the conditions for TPS designation.
IRS Schedule 1 is the tax form used to report additional income such as freelance earnings, gig work, and side income, and it attaches to Form 1040. Taxpayers with self-employment or non-wage income are typically required to complete this form.
Missing the US federal tax filing deadline has different consequences depending on whether a refund is owed or taxes are due. Unpaid federal income tax accrues penalties and interest the longer it remains outstanding, while those owed a refund face fewer immediate consequences.
Recent enforcement and policy changes to Form I-9 have raised the compliance burden for US employers. Errors or oversights in employment eligibility verification now carry greater risk than before.
The US Department of State has published the May 2026 Visa Bulletin, with USCIS confirming that employment-based applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart. No meaningful movement is reported across employment-based categories, representing a pause after several months of advancement.
Beginning in 2026, the IRS will automatically grant the First-Time Abatement waiver, removing the need for taxpayers to request relief from failure-to-pay and failure-to-deposit penalties. The waiver applies to eligible taxpayers who meet specific criteria and have no prior penalty history.
The US House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation to restore funding for the Department of Homeland Security, ending the agency's longest shutdown on record. The bill, which funds agencies including the Transportation Security Administration, has been sent to President Trump for signature.
USCIS has received sufficient petitions to fill the second allocation of 27,736 returning worker H-2B visas for FY 2026, covering employment start dates from April 1 through April 30. No further petitions will be accepted under this allocation.
An interim final rule effective May 29, 2026 implements immigration fees from the H.R. 1 Reconciliation Act of 2025, including an Annual Asylum Fee. Asylum seekers who do not pay the fee within 30 days face specified consequences under the new rule.
A guide covering what US green cards are, who qualifies for them, and how they function as a form of lawful permanent residency. The resource addresses common questions about the green card process for immigrants and Americans abroad.