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• U.S. Suspends Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Countries
• February 2026 Visa Bulletin
• U.S. Visa Bond Requirements
• DHS Terminates Somalia’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
• Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration Immigration Policy
• USCIS Premium Processing Fee Increase
• DHS Removes One-Year R-1 Residency Requirement

U.S. Suspends Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Countries

The U.S. government has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, effective January 21, 2026, as part of a broader immigration enforcement and vetting review. Under the directive, U.S. consular officers are instructed to pause or refuse immigrant visa issuance for affected nationals while the State Department reassesses screening standards and compliance with public charge and security-related requirements. Countries reportedly impacted include Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Yemen, and others.

The freeze applies specifically to immigrant visas processed abroad and does not impact nonimmigrant visa categories (such as B, F, H, or L visas) or adjustment of status applications filed within the United States. The measure is characterized as temporary, but no end date has been announced, creating uncertainty for applicants awaiting consular processing and for employers sponsoring employees for permanent residence from overseas.

Impact: The suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries may cause significant delays to green card timelines and consular case processing. Employers should identify affected cases, adjust mobility planning, and closely monitor State Department guidance as the pause continues.

February 2026 Visa Bulletin

The Department of State’s February 2026 Visa Bulletin reflects continued immigrant visa backlogs, with limited movement across most family- and employment-based categories. For employers, the bulletin underscores ongoing challenges in green card timing, particularly for employees chargeable to India and China, and reinforces the need for realistic workforce and retention planning.

In the employment-based categories, EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 for India and China remain unchanged, continuing long wait times with no forward movement. The most notable advancement appears in EB-3 for Rest of World, Mexico, and the Philippines, which moved forward modestly. Other employment-based categories showed little to no change. Family-sponsored categories also remained largely static, with limited movement primarily in select Mexico and Philippines preferences.

February 2026 Visa Bulletin – High-Level Movement Summary

Impact: Teams should monitor Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing closely. USCIS will accept employment-based adjustment filings using the Dates for Filing chart for February 2026, but slow movement and retrogression risk continue, underscoring the need for early sponsorship, careful tracking, and planning for extended nonimmigrant status reliance.

U.S. Visa Bond Requirements

The U.S. Department of State has updated its “Countries Subject to Visa Bonds” list, expanding the pilot program that requires certain visitors to post refundable visa bonds when applying for B-1/B-2 (business/tourist) visas. Under this Temporary Final Rule, consular officers may require applicants from designated countries to post bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, intended to increase compliance with visa terms and discourage overstays. The bond requirement is determined at the visa interview and is refunded if the traveler departs the U.S. before their authorized stay expires or if admission is denied.

As of January 8, 2026, the list includes 38 countries whose nationals may be subject to visa bond requirements. Many of the additions took effect on January 21, 2026, though some were already in force earlier. Nationals of these countries must post a bond only if directed by a consular officer and must also file DHS Form I-352 to secure the bond.

Impact: The expanded visa bond program may add significant cost and administrative requirements for certain B-1/B-2 travelers, including $5,000–$15,000 bonds, Form I-352 filing, and possible port-of-entry restrictions. Mobility teams should plan for added expense, update travel guidance, and proactively support affected travelers to avoid delays.

DHS Terminates Somalia’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

The Department of Homeland Security has announced the termination of TPS for Somalia, with the designation set to expire on March 17, 2026. Somali nationals currently relying on TPS will lose protection from removal and work authorization unless they obtain another lawful immigration status before that date. TPS for Somalia had been in place since 1991 and was most recently extended through March 2026.

DHS stated that the termination follows a review of country conditions and a determination that Somalia no longer meets the statutory requirements for TPS, though the decision has drawn criticism and may be subject to legal challenge.

Impact: Somali TPS holders will need to transition to another immigration status to maintain work authorization after March 17, 2026. Employers should identify affected employees, assess alternative status options, and plan for potential workforce impacts while monitoring for possible litigation or policy changes.

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration Immigration Policy

A federal judge has blocked a Trump administration immigration policy aimed at curtailing temporary legal status for thousands of migrants, ruling that the government’s action violated procedural and legal requirements. The decision stems from a lawsuit challenging the administration’s effort to end certain humanitarian parole or temporary status programs for migrants from multiple countries, which would have affected an estimated 10,000–12,000 individuals who were lawfully residing in the U.S. under family-based parole programs.

The judge’s order prevents the administration from moving forward with the policy pending further litigation, emphasizing that the government failed to provide the legally required notice and justification for terminating status for those individuals. This action represents a broader pattern of judicial checks on executive immigration actions, particularly those involving rollback of existing status programs without standard procedural safeguards.

Impact: The court’s ruling temporarily preserves lawful status and work authorization for affected individuals, avoiding immediate disruption for employers and employees. However, the administration may appeal, and ongoing litigation creates continued uncertainty, underscoring the need for close monitoring and contingency planning for impacted populations.

USCIS Premium Processing Fee Increase

USCIS has announced that premium processing fees will increase effective March 1, 2026, as part of a required biennial inflation adjustment under the USCIS Stabilization Act. The new fees will apply to Form I-907 requests postmarked on or after March 1, 2026, and filings submitted with outdated fees will be rejected. The increase does not affect eligibility, adjudication standards, or processing timelines.

Updated Premium Processing Fees (Effective March 1, 2026):

Impact: For in-house global mobility and immigration teams, the impact is primarily financial and operational. Premium processing is commonly used for time-sensitive cases such as H-1B and L-1 filings, OPT/STEM employment authorization, travel needs, and immigrant petition milestones, and the higher fees should be reflected in 2026 budgets and forecasts. Where possible, employers may consider filing before March 1, 2026 to use the current fee structure, and should update internal processes and coordinate with finance and external counsel to avoid filing errors.

DHS Removes One-Year R-1 Residency Requirement

Effective January 14, 2026, DHS issued an interim final rule eliminating the one-year foreign residency requirement for religious workers seeking to return to the U.S. in R-1 nonimmigrant status after reaching the five-year maximum stay. While R-1 workers must still depart the U.S. upon reaching the five-year limit, they are no longer required to remain abroad for a full year before reapplying for R-1 admission.

The change applies to all R-1 religious workers, including ministers, monks, nuns, and other qualifying religious occupations. DHS noted that severe EB-4 immigrant visa backlogs have left many religious workers unable to transition to permanent residence before exhausting their R-1 time, and the rule is intended to mitigate staffing disruptions caused by visa retrogression. The rule took effect immediately and is subject to a 60-day public comment period.

Impact: The change allows R-1 religious workers to reapply for R-1 status immediately after departing the U.S., improving staffing continuity for organizations affected by EB-4 backlogs. Employers should reassess R-1 timelines and travel strategies and coordinate with counsel to take advantage of the new flexibility.