FY 2027 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 4

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year (FY) 2027 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 4 and run through noon Eastern on March 19, 2026. During this period, prospective H-1B cap-subject petitioners and representatives must use a USCIS online account to register each beneficiary electronically for the selection process and pay the associated $215 H-1B registration fee for each registration.

If you are an H-1B petitioning employer who does not have a USCIS online account, you must create an organizational account. Representatives may add company clients to their accounts at any time, but both representatives and employers must wait until <str

Visa Bulletin March 2026 Predictions

For official February 2026 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-february-2026.aspx

Please see March 2026 Visa Bulletin Predictions below (for both Family Based and Employment Based categories for all countries):

Family Based:

Final Action Dates

Dates For Filing Applications

"Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	08DEC16	08DEC16	08DEC16	01MAR07	01APR13
F2A	08APR24	08APR24	08APR24	01APR23	08APR24
F2B	15DEC16	15DEC16	15DEC16	15JUN09	01FEB13
F3	15OCT11	15OCT11	15OCT11	15MAY01	08MAY05
F4	22JAN08	22JAN08	22NOV06	01MAY01	15SEP06

"Date for Filing Application" is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	01NOV17	01NOV17	01NOV17	08FEB08	08JUN15
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01MAY17	01MAY17	01MAY17	08JUN10	08NOV13
F3	08AUG12	08AUG12	08AUG12	08JUL01	01APR06
F4	01APR09	01APR09	01JAN07	22MAY01	15FEB08

DHS Reduces Wait Times for Thousands of Religious Workers Abroad

New rule eliminates one-year foreign residency requirement for thousands of religious workers abroad

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued an interim final rule to religious organizations and their communities allowing thousands of religious workers—including priests, nuns, and rabbis—that previously were required to remain outside the United States before returning, to resume their essential services. This rule significantly reduces this wait time, providing stability and minimizing disruptions for faith-based communities.

"Under the leadership of Secretary Noem, DHS is committed to protecting and preserving freedom and expression of religion. We are taking the necessary steps to ensure religious organizations can continue delivering the services that Americans depend on," said a <stro

Homeland Security Terminates Somalia’s Temporary Protected Status Designation

The termination will be effective on March 17, 2026

WASHINGTON – Today, the United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the termination of Somalia's designation for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The termination will be effective on March 17, 2026.

"Temporary means temporary. Country conditions in Somalia have improved to the point that it no longer meets the law's requirement for Temporary Protected Status," said Secretary Noem. "Further, allowing Somali nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to our national interests. We are putting Americans

USCIS to Increase Premium Processing Fees

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is publishing a final rule that will increase USCIS fees for premium processing to reflect the amount of inflation from June 2023 through June 2025.

The USCIS Stabilization Act established the authority for DHS to adjust premium processing fees every two years to account for inflation. Fees will continue to be adjusted agencywide to account for inflation and protect the real dollar value of the premium processing service we provide. The revenue generated by this fee increase will be used to provide premium processing services; make improvements to adjudication processes; respond to adjudication demands, including processing backlogs; and otherwise fund USCIS adjudication and naturalization services.

This

February 2026 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For February 2026 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-february-2026.aspx

Please see below analysis of February 2026 Visa Bulletin:

Family Based:

Final Action Dates

Dates For Filing Applications

"Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	No Change	No Change	No Change	+3 Months 21 Days	No Change
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	+3 Months	No Change
F3	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F4	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change

"Date for Filing Application" is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	No Change	No Change	No Change	+3 Months	No Change
F2A	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	+3 Months	No Change
F3	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F4	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change

February 2026 Visa Bulletin

For January 2026 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-january-2026.aspx

For analysis of February 2026 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-analysis-february-2026.aspx

February 2026 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from February 1 to February 28 only). Please see below for more details.

Family Based:

Final Action Dates

Dates For Filing Applications

"Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability  Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland  born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	08NOV16	08NOV16	08NOV16	22DEC06	01MAR13
F2A	01FEB24	01FEB24	01FEB24	01FEB23	01FEB24
F2B	01DEC16	01DEC16	01DEC16	15FEB09	22DEC12
F3	08SEP11	08SEP11	08SEP11	01MAY01	01MAR05
F4	08JAN08	08JAN08	01NOV06	08APR01	22JUL06

"Date for Filing Application" is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability  Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland  born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	01SEP17	01SEP17	01SEP17	01DEC07	22APR15
F2A	22JAN26	22JAN26	22JAN26	22JAN26	22JAN26
F2B	15MAR17	15MAR17	15MAR17	15FEB10	01OCT13
F3	22JUL12	22JUL12	22JUL12	01JUL01	01FEB06
F4	01MAR09	01MAR09	15DEC06	30APR01	15JAN08