Meridian · Freshness tracker

What's changed.

Dated updates to visa, tax, residency, citizenship, housing, and labour policy across every country tracked. Every entry cites its primary source and the date we last verified it.

Subscribe via RSS ↗ · 26 entries shown

Country All countriesAQAntarcticaAUAustraliaBRBrazilCACanadaCNChina (Mainland)EGEgyptFRFranceDEGermanyHKHong KongIEIrelandITItalyJPJapanMXMexicoMAMoroccoNLNetherlandsNZNew ZealandPTPortugalSGSingaporeZASouth AfricaKRSouth KoreaESSpainAEUnited Arab EmiratesGBUnited KingdomUSUnited States
Category All categoriesVisa & immigrationResidencyCitizenshipTaxationLabourHousingHealthcareOther
In force 27 Feb 2026
In force Visa & immigration

H-1B lottery replaced by weighted (wage-based) selection

USCIS finalised a rule replacing the randomised H-1B lottery with a weighted selection system that prioritises higher-paid roles. Registrations are weighted at different rates depending on the prevailing-wage level (Level I receives the lowest weight; Level IV the highest). Effective 27 February 2026; applies to the FY2027 cap registration season.

Who it affects: All H-1B cap-subject employers and prospective registrants from FY2027 onwards.

USCIS — US Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗ · Federal Register ↗ · US Department of Homeland Security ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Oct 2025
In force Visa & immigration

DV Lottery ineligible-country list updated for DV-2027

The Department of State's annual DV-lottery ineligibility list is recalculated each year based on prior-5-year immigration volumes. For DV-2027 (registration Oct-Nov 2025), several countries were added to the ineligible list (Brazil, Colombia joined the existing list of high-volume countries); some smaller countries previously ineligible became eligible. Practical effect: shifts in who can register for the 50,000 annual diversity visas.

Who it affects: Prospective DV-lottery registrants from countries added to or removed from the ineligible list.

US Department of State ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 21 Sept 2025
In force Visa & immigration

Presidential Proclamation restricting entry of certain non-immigrant workers

A companion Presidential Proclamation to the H-1B fee order restricted entry of certain non-immigrant workers pending the Department of Homeland Security's publication of implementing guidance. The proclamation's practical scope has developed through 2025–2026 agency guidance; ongoing litigation contests several provisions.

Who it affects: Non-immigrant workers in categories specified by subsequent DHS implementing guidance.

The White House ↗ · US Department of Homeland Security ↗ · US Department of State ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 21 Sept 2025
In force Visa & immigration

Presidential Proclamation imposes US$100,000 fee per H-1B petition

Presidential Proclamation issued 19 September 2025 imposed a US$100,000 additional fee per H-1B visa petition as a condition of eligibility, effective immediately for new petitions submitted after 12:01 am EDT on 21 September 2025. Applies to FY2026 lottery petitions and any subsequent H-1B petitions. Litigation challenges filed; implementation continues pending court rulings.

Who it affects: All new H-1B petitions submitted after 12:01 am EDT, 21 September 2025.

The White House ↗ · USCIS — US Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗ · US Department of State ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

Announced 15 Jul 2025
Announced Visa & immigration

Proposed prevailing-wage level reform for H-1B and PERM

DOL issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on prevailing-wage levels for H-1B, H-1B1, E-3, and PERM labour certifications in mid-2025. The proposal would raise Level 1 prevailing wages to approximately the 35th percentile of OES data, Level 2 to the 53rd, Level 3 to the 72nd, and Level 4 to the 90th. The rule is in comment and review; implementation deferred.

Who it affects: Prospective H-1B workers and PERM green-card beneficiaries; sponsoring employers.

U.S. Department of Labor ↗ · Federal Register ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 9 Jun 2025
In force Visa & immigration

Proclamation suspending entry from 19 countries

A Presidential proclamation signed 4 June 2025 suspended most immigrant and non-immigrant entry of nationals of twelve countries and imposed partial suspensions on seven others, effective 9 June 2025. Exemptions apply for lawful permanent residents, certain dual nationals, specific visa categories, and individuals whose entry is in the national interest.

Who it affects: Nationals of the nineteen affected countries currently outside the US or seeking US entry.

The White House ↗ · U.S. Department of State — Bureau of Consular Affairs ↗ · Federal Register ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 7 Mar 2025
In force Visa & immigration

H-1B registration fee raised from $10 to $215

The USCIS fee rule published on 31 January 2024 raised the H-1B electronic registration fee from $10 to $215 per beneficiary registration, effective from the FY2026 cap season in March 2025. Other USCIS fees (Form I-129, I-140, I-485) also rose substantially under the same rule.

Who it affects: All H-1B-sponsoring employers; indirectly H-1B beneficiaries.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗ · Federal Register ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

Announced 20 Jan 2025
Delayed Citizenship

Executive order attempting to limit birthright citizenship enjoined

A Presidential executive order signed on 20 January 2025 purported to deny automatic US citizenship to children born on US soil to parents who were either unlawfully present or in the US on temporary visas. Federal courts in Washington, Maryland, and Massachusetts issued nationwide injunctions in late January and February 2025; the order has not taken effect. The Fourteenth Amendment's Citizenship Clause is the primary legal obstacle.

Who it affects: Children born in the US to non-permanent-resident parents; situation unresolved pending litigation.

The White House ↗ · Federal Register ↗ · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 20 Jan 2025
In force Residency

Presidential executive orders on immigration issued on inauguration day

A series of executive orders issued on 20 January 2025 substantially reshaped US immigration policy — ending CBP One parole appointments at the southern border, ending Biden-era humanitarian parole programmes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, directing enhanced interior enforcement, and initiating a review of refugee-admission ceilings. Subsequent implementing orders and court rulings have tempered, expanded, or delayed various elements.

Who it affects: Broad immigration ecosystem — asylum, border enforcement, parole programmes, humanitarian protections.

The White House ↗ · US Department of Homeland Security ↗ · USCIS — US Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 17 Jan 2025
In force Visa & immigration

H-1B Modernization rule — specialty-occupation definition updated

USCIS's H-1B Modernization final rule published on 18 December 2024 took effect 17 January 2025. The "specialty occupation" definition was clarified to allow multiple qualifying degree fields, deference to prior H-1B approvals was codified, cap-gap for F-1 students was extended to 1 April of the following year, and F-1 ownership of the sponsoring employer was explicitly permitted under conditions.

Who it affects: H-1B candidates and employers; F-1 students transitioning to H-1B; entrepreneurs sponsoring themselves.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗ · Federal Register ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 17 Jan 2025
In force Visa & immigration

USCIS H-1B Modernization Rule — registration integrity, degree recognition

Effective 17 January 2025, the USCIS H-1B Modernization Rule introduced several changes: beneficiary-centric registration (each individual eligible for selection once regardless of multiple employer registrations), clarification of specialty-occupation standards (direct relationship between degree and role required), streamlined cap-gap student extensions. Pre-dates and is distinct from the 2025 Trump administration weighted-selection rule.

Who it affects: All H-1B cap-subject registrants and employers.

USCIS — US Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗ · Federal Register ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jan 2025
In force Residency

DACA programme remains under litigation; no new applications accepted

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) remains under continued federal court litigation following the 5th Circuit's September 2023 ruling upholding the July 2021 district-court order that found the programme unlawful. Existing DACA recipients continue to be able to renew; no new initial applications are being processed pending final judicial resolution. Congressional legislation remains the only reliable permanent-status path.

Who it affects: Approximately 580,000 current DACA recipients and a larger pool of potentially-eligible undocumented youth.

USCIS — US Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗ · US Department of Homeland Security ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Sept 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Global Entry expanded to additional partner countries

CBP continued expansion of Global Entry partner-country eligibility through 2024–2025 — adding nationals of additional countries with reciprocal trusted-traveller agreements (notably Poland, Taiwan, and several others). Existing programme rules unchanged; expansion affects applicant eligibility rather than programme substance.

Who it affects: Frequent international travellers from newly-eligible partner countries.

US Department of Homeland Security ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 19 Aug 2024
Repealed Residency

Keeping Families Together parole enjoined and terminated

The Keeping Families Together parole-in-place program for non-citizen spouses of US citizens, announced 17 June 2024 and opened 19 August 2024, was blocked by a federal court on 26 August 2024 and permanently vacated on 7 November 2024. A change in administration in January 2025 confirmed non-revival. Applications filed during the brief window received no adjudication.

Who it affects: Non-citizen spouses of US citizens who would have qualified; included for historical context.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗ · Federal Register ↗ · The White House ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 1 Jul 2024
In force Visa & immigration

DOL prevailing-wage methodology refreshed

The Department of Labor refreshed its prevailing-wage methodology in mid-2024 — annual OES data refresh plus technical revisions to wage-level determinations for specific tech and healthcare occupations. Did not introduce the controversial 2020 proposed wage floors that were vacated by courts. Continues the stability of the Obama-era four-tier wage structure.

Who it affects: All H-1B, H-2B, PERM, and LCA applications relying on DOL prevailing-wage determinations.

US Department of Labor ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 8 Apr 2024
In force Visa & immigration

EAD automatic extension period lengthened to 540 days

USCIS published a temporary final rule on 8 April 2024 lengthening the automatic extension of expiring Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for eligible categories from 180 to 540 days. The rule was made permanent by a final rule in December 2024, addressing chronic USCIS processing backlogs.

Who it affects: EAD-dependent workers including H-4, L-2, and certain asylum and adjustment-of-status applicants.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗ · Federal Register ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 1 Apr 2024
In force Visa & immigration

USCIS Trusted Employer Pilot Programme launched

USCIS launched a Trusted Employer Pilot Programme in April 2024 to streamline adjudication for a defined set of high-volume, low-risk petitioners. Enrolled employers receive expedited review of eligible petitions. Pilot operated for 2 years; outcomes published in 2026 inform potential expansion of permanent-programme status.

Who it affects: Large-volume USCIS petitioners enrolled in the pilot; indirect benefit to their beneficiaries.

USCIS — US Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Mar 2024
In force Visa & immigration

H-1B beneficiary-centric registration rule

USCIS finalised a rule, published 2 February 2024, changing the H-1B cap-season registration process so that each beneficiary is counted once regardless of how many employers register for them. Multiple registrations for the same beneficiary were a primary driver of cap-selection distortion; the new rule applied from the FY2025 cap season.

Who it affects: H-1B-sponsoring employers; workers subject to the annual 85,000 H-1B cap.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗ · Federal Register ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

Announced 7 Feb 2024
Repealed Residency

Bipartisan border-security and immigration-reform bill failed in Senate

A bipartisan border-security and immigration-reform bill negotiated by Senators Lankford, Sinema, and Murphy failed a procedural vote in the Senate on 7 February 2024, after opposition from then-former-president Trump. Represented the closest Congress has come to major immigration reform since 2013. Subsequent administrative actions by both the Biden (2024) and Trump (2025) administrations have substituted for legislative change in practice.

Who it affects: Broad US immigration policy — no major legislative reform enacted.

The White House ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 30 Jan 2024
In force Visa & immigration

National Interest Waiver guidance expanded for STEM and entrepreneurs

USCIS issued revised policy guidance on 30 January 2024 for the EB-2 National Interest Waiver, including specific positive factors for STEM-field research and for entrepreneur-founders with supporting evidence of national interest. The guidance materially expanded the realistic NIW pathway for advanced-degree professionals.

Who it affects: EB-2 NIW self-petitioners, particularly STEM professionals and startup founders.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗ · Federal Register ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Labour

Social Security Fairness Act — WEP and GPO repealed

The Social Security Fairness Act was signed on 5 January 2025, repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset. Repeal was retroactive to benefit payments beginning January 2024. Public-sector retirees with non-covered pensions (including those with foreign pensions not subject to FICA) saw US Social Security benefits materially increased.

Who it affects: Public-sector retirees; US nationals and residents with non-FICA pensions from foreign systems.

Social Security Administration ↗ · The White House ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Updated USCIS guidance for O-1 extraordinary-ability adjudication

USCIS continued its multi-year refresh of O-1 adjudication guidance through 2024 — explicit recognition of criteria common in STEM fields (peer-reviewed publications, patents, research-grant awards, media coverage in specialised outlets). Materially improved the adjudication predictability for founder and researcher O-1A petitions following earlier 2022 guidance.

Who it affects: O-1A and O-1B petitioners, particularly founders and STEM researchers.

USCIS — US Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Residency

Public charge rule reverted to pre-2019 "totality of circumstances" framework

The 2022 final rule reverting the public-charge inadmissibility determination to a "totality of circumstances" framework (the pre-2019 standard) remains in force. USCIS Form I-944 is not required; Form I-864 affidavit of support continues to be the primary vehicle. Does not consider non-cash benefits such as SNAP, Medicaid, or public housing as public charge factors.

Who it affects: All adjustment-of-status applicants and new immigrant-visa applicants.

USCIS — US Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Residency

Visa Bulletin retrogression continues for key employment-based categories

Through 2024–2026 the Visa Bulletin continued to reflect significant retrogression in employment-based categories — particularly EB-2 and EB-3 for India (current priority dates in the early-mid 2010s) and China. EB-5 set-aside categories (rural, high-unemployment) remain current for most nationalities. Movement is a function of annual demand versus the 140,000 employment-based annual limit and per-country 7% cap.

Who it affects: Employment-based green-card applicants in backlogged categories and countries.

US Department of State ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 15 Mar 2022
In force Visa & immigration

EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act investment thresholds set

The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (signed 15 March 2022) reauthorised the Regional Center program and set permanent minimum investment thresholds: $1.05 million for standard projects and $800,000 for projects in Targeted Employment Areas. Investment-level inflation adjustments apply every five years (next adjustment 1 January 2027).

Who it affects: EB-5 investor-visa applicants and regional centers.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗ · Federal Register ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 21 Jan 2022
In force Visa & immigration

STEM OPT eligible fields expanded to 22 new study areas

DHS/SEVP expanded the STEM Designated Degree Program List by 22 new fields of study in January 2022, including several data-science, cloud-computing, and climate-science areas. The list has since been updated incrementally through 2023-2025 to reflect emerging occupational categories.

Who it affects: F-1 students pursuing newly listed STEM fields; their sponsoring employers.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — SEVP ↗ · Federal Register ↗ · verified 2026-04-21