Neutralized, source-linked updates from nomad, tax, migration, and remote-work sources.
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 Finnish Parliament has approved amendments to the Citizenship Act introducing a knowledge and integration test as a requirement for naturalization. The changes take effect January 1, 2027, applying to applications submitted on or after March 1, 2027.
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.
Kuwait's Council of Ministers issued Resolution No. 651 of 2026 on June 15, 2026, establishing a new residency framework allowing eligible foreign investors and their immediate family members to obtain 15-year residency permits. The program is administered in coordination with the General Department of Residency Affairs and the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA).
The July 2026 Visa Bulletin shows advancement in EB-1 China and EB-3 China and India, while EB-1 India retrogresses and EB-2 India becomes unavailable ahead of the fiscal year reset. Other employment-based categories see limited forward movement, reflecting continued pressure on visa numbers.
Jordan has announced a regularization drive allowing non-Jordanian workers of all nationalities to legalize their immigration status, running from June 15 to September 30, 2026. Employers are encouraged to use the exemption period to bring workers into lawful employment status.
Switzerland lifted visa restrictions on Ethiopian nationals that had been in place since April 2024, with the Federal Council adopting the measure on June 12, 2026. The decision followed the EU Council's move to reinstate certain visa requirements for Ethiopia in response to improved cooperation from the country.
Effective June 12, 2026, Ireland updated its non-EEA Family Reunification Policy, including changes affecting Irish nationals and certain non-EEA nationals. General Employment Permit holders and other Category C sponsors are now required to submit additional supporting documentation.
The UK government has launched a Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for scale-up businesses operating in the Clean Energy, Life Sciences, and Digital and Technologies sectors. The scheme covers eligible visa fees incurred on or after June 9, 2026.
Effective June 9, 2026, the Philippines Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has centralized all processing, evaluation, and issuance of Alien Employment Permits (AEPs) at the DOLE Central Office under Administrative Order No. 199 of 2026. All DOLE Regional Offices have immediately ceased accepting or processing both new and renewal AEP applications.
Costa Rica's General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners (DGME) has created a special temporary supplementary residence category for nationals of Colombia, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela with pending or denied asylum applications. The route is available to those who submitted an asylum application between June 1, 2014, and an unspecified cutoff date.
From June 9 to December 31, 2026, individuals in Canada who have applied for permanent residence under the Provincial Nominee Program may submit alternative proof of PR submission instead of an Acknowledgment of Receipt when applying for a work permit. Officers are authorized to temporarily accept this alternative evidence during this period.
The U.S. Department of State confirmed that as of June 5, 2026, all available EB-5 unreserved immigrant visas chargeable to India have been issued for fiscal year 2026. U.S. embassies and consulates can no longer issue EB-5 unreserved visas to Indian applicants for the remainder of FY 2026.
Uganda's National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) began registering foreign nationals on June 10, 2026, under the Registration of Persons Act. The requirement applies to all foreign nationals lawfully resident in Uganda, excluding those visiting for 90 days or fewer.
South Africa's Employment Services Amendment Bill would require employers to verify that no suitably qualified South African citizens, permanent residents, refugees, or asylum seekers are available before recruiting foreign workers. The bill also proposes stronger enforcement measures and penalties for non-compliance.
Hungary's National Directorate for Aliens Policing (OIF) will no longer accept new guest worker residence permit applications effective June 6, 2026. Applications submitted by June 5, 2026 with the administrative fee paid will still be processed, and existing permit holders may still apply for extensions.
Senate Republicans passed the Secure America Act (S.2) on June 5, 2026, sending the bill to the White House. The legislation allocates $69.5 billion to the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice for immigration enforcement funding.
The US Department of State has issued a temporary final rule adding an optional $750 expedited interview fee for B1/B2 visa applicants, effective July 1 through December 31, 2026. Eligible applicants who pay the fee can secure an interview appointment within 10 business days, subject to availability.
A US federal court ruled on June 8, 2026 that the Trump administration lacked authority to impose a $100,000 fee per H-1B visa petition, vacating the policy immediately. The decision was issued by US District Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston.
USCIS opened a new Asylum Office in San Antonio, Texas, effective May 28, 2026, to increase interview capacity for affirmative asylum applications. Applicants within the Houston Asylum Office jurisdiction may now be scheduled for interviews at either the Houston or San Antonio location.
Effective June 5, 2026, IRCC expanded a temporary measure originally announced March 13, 2026, allowing eligible Quebec workers to obtain employer-specific work permits under the International Mobility Program to continue working for their current employer.
A federal judge in Rhode Island struck down a Trump administration DHS policy on June 5, 2026 that had suspended adjudication of asylum applications, work permits, green cards, and citizenship applications for nationals of approximately 39 countries. The court order blocks the policy, restoring processing of those immigration benefits for affected applicants.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed a rule that would significantly limit access to Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for parolees, deferred action recipients, and individuals with final removal orders. The proposal is framed as an effort to reduce unauthorized employment and prioritize U.S. workers.
Sierra Leone's Ministry of Information and Civic Education announced a nationwide verification exercise for foreign nationals beginning June 1, 2026, covering residence permits, work permits, and non-national identity cards. A taskforce will conduct inspections at workplaces and businesses to verify compliance.
From June 1, 2026, enterprises, representative offices, and registered organizations in Vietnam must use Business VNeID to access government online portals for immigration procedures. The previous login method using a company e-signature or token has been discontinued with no transition period.
As of June 1, 2026, South Korea's Ministry of Justice raised the quota for E-7-4 skilled foreign workers in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries to 50% of the workforce. The change is intended to address labor shortages in those rural sectors.
From June 2026, South Korea's Top-Tier Visa now covers professors and researchers in science and technology, following a joint announcement by the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Science and ICT on May 31, 2026. The visa had previously been restricted to employees at companies in eight high-tech industries including semiconductors.
Qatar's Ministry of Interior has announced that automatic extensions of expiring or expired entry visas will cease on June 7, 2026. From that date, standard procedures and validity periods for all entry visa types will apply.
From June 1, 2026, Immigration New Zealand has temporarily reduced visitor visa fees for Pacific nationals from NZD 216 to NZD 161 (including the NZD 41 immigration levy). The reduction is in effect for 12 months.
New work permit rules took effect in Sweden on June 1, 2026, affecting employers hiring non-EU/EEA nationals. Changes include a new salary requirement and expanded grounds for the Swedish Migration Agency to reject applications.