The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced significant changes concerning immigration processes, effective from early 2026 and will impact multiple aspects of visa processing and application fees.
Starting on March 1, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will increase premium processing fees for certain visa applications. Applicants wishing to expedite their processing must account for these new fees, detailed on a revised fee schedule yet to be fully outlined.
In a related development, the DHS and the Department of Labor (DOL) have revealed their intention to make an additional 35,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas available for Fiscal Year 2026. This is an increase on the standard 66,000 H-2B visas normally allocated each year. The DOL and DHS are prioritizing these additional visas for U.S. businesses needing seasonal or temporary workers in vital sectors of the economy, including seafood, forestry, hospitality, tourism, transportation, and manufacturing. Specific details and eligibility criteria for these visas will be released via a temporary final rule in the Federal Register soon.
Furthermore, the Department of State (DOS) has expanded the list of countries whose nationals are required to post visa bonds when applying for a B1/B2 visa. Affected applicants must pay a bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, which is determined at the time of their visa interview. Importantly, all visa holders who post a bond must enter and exit the United States through designated ports of entry, such as Boston Logan, John F. Kennedy, and Los Angeles International Airports, among others, starting between August 2025 and January 2026.
Lastly, the DHS has initiated Operation PARRIS (Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening) in Minnesota. This operation aims to conduct thorough investigations of refugee cases, particularly focusing on individuals who have not yet received green cards. The review will involve background checks and reinterviews for approximately 233,000 refugee approvals from January 21, 2021, to February 20, 2025.
These measures underscore the DHS’s commitment to enhancing immigration integrity and ensuring that visa processes align with current economic needs while maintaining security protocols.