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.
529 plans offer tax advantages for US citizens living abroad and may be used for some overseas education expenses, though not all foreign education costs qualify. Eligibility rules and qualifying expense categories apply to Americans using these plans while residing outside the US.
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 IRS is reportedly considering adding a dual citizenship question to Form 1040, according to a Reuters report. The proposal could affect the estimated five million or more US citizens who hold citizenship in another country.
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.