The European Commission approved on May 8, 2026 the application of the EU Visa Cascade regime to Thai nationals residing in Thailand applying for short-stay Schengen visas at Schengen State embassies or consulates in Thailand. This allows applicants to apply at any Schengen member state's mission in Thailand when their intended destination country has no representation there.
USCIS has opened a new Atlanta Asylum Office to handle affirmative asylum interviews for applicants in Georgia and Alabama. Starting July 8, 2026, applicants under this office's jurisdiction will be scheduled at one of three interview locations.
Following the Supreme Court's decision in Mullin v. Doe, USCIS has issued updated E-Verify and Form I-9 guidance for employers and Temporary Protected Status beneficiaries from Burma, Ethiopia, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The guidance is temporary while lower court litigation over TPS terminations continues.
Effective June 12, 2026, Ireland's Department of Justice amended its Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy, introducing changes to eligibility criteria, financial requirements, and sponsorship obligations. The amendments affect both Irish citizens and non-EEA nationals seeking to reunite with family members, as well as individuals granted international protection.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has released a 358-page proposed rule for the EB-5 investor visa program, establishing a $1.4 million investment tier, a two-year capital commitment requirement, and a sanctions enforcement regime for regional centers.
The UAE has extended visa-on-arrival access to nationals of Indonesia, the Philippines, and four other countries who hold qualifying residence permits. The change expands entry options for travelers from these nationalities visiting the UAE.
Antigua's Prime Minister has warned that the country could lose Schengen visa-free access by the end of the year. The government has stated its citizenship-by-investment program will continue regardless of that outcome.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has extended the grace period for foreign workers whose work permits expired more than six months ago, or who were not issued work permits within six months of joining an establishment, until the end of 2026.
Immigration New Zealand has changed its policy to require police certificates to be submitted at the time of application for student and certain other temporary visas, effective immediately. Applications missing a required police certificate may be declined without further request for the document.