Effective May 11, 2026, Brazil has eliminated short-stay visa requirements for holders of ordinary Chinese passports. The arrangement allows stays of up to 30 days for tourism and business purposes and is valid through December 31, 2026.
Japan's Cabinet approved a visa fee increase effective July 1, 2026. Single-entry visa fees will rise from 3,000 yen to 15,000 yen, and multiple-entry visa fees will increase from 6,000 yen to 30,000 yen.
The Swiss Federal Council has opened a consultation on whether to extend Protection Status S for displaced Ukrainians past its current March 2027 expiry, citing the ongoing conflict and lack of a foreseeable ceasefire. The consultation involves cantons, municipalities, social partners, and other stakeholders.
EB-5 applicants are affected by a pause on immigrant visas, a crackdown on adjustment-of-status filings, and a September 2026 grandfathering deadline converging simultaneously. Investors in the program face significant procedural and timing pressures heading into 2026.
Effective June 3, 2026, MDEC-registered companies in Malaysia must follow a revised process for Foreign Knowledge Worker headcount quota requests, which now requires formal review and supporting documentation. Quota requests will no longer be approved instantly.
From June 20, 2026, certain foreign labour procedures in Hanoi that had been delegated to ward-level offices will revert to the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA). This arrangement is in effect until December 31, 2028.
USCIS issued a policy memorandum on June 17, 2026, clarifying how temporary or seasonal need is evaluated for H-2A petitions involving dairy work. Dairy-related positions may qualify for H-2A classification if employers can demonstrate their labor needs are temporary or seasonal.
The Quebec Experience Program (QEP) will be reinstated from July 2, 2026, to July 2, 2028, with applications accepted in stages. The first stage runs July 2 to October 31, 2026, for applicants who obtained a Quebec diploma or eligible work experience.
The US State Department's July 2026 Visa Bulletin shows India EB-2 becoming unavailable due to increasing visa number pressure in the final quarter of Fiscal Year 2026. USCIS has confirmed employment-based applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart for July.