Overview
USA, Canada and Mexico immigration news
Dated, sourced updates on immigration policy changes in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
In this section
- Public charge rule in effectA Department of Homeland Security (DHS) final rule that rescinds the 2022 public charge regulation took effect on September 18, 2026. USCIS officers now decide whether a green card applicant is likely to become a "public charge" through a broader, case-by-case review of the totality of the applicant's circumstances. The rule applies to adjustment of status applications postmarked or filed online on or after September 18, 2026, which must use the revised Form I-485.
- H-1B fee proclamation extendedOn September 18, 2026 the President signed a proclamation extending the $100,000 payment requirement for certain new H-1B petitions by 12 months, to September 21, 2027. The fee is still not being collected, because a federal court vacated the policy on June 8, 2026 and the First Circuit refused on July 24, 2026 to put that ruling on hold during the appeal. A separate executive order directs agencies to consider an employer's past and planned layoffs when reviewing H-1B filings.
- Express Entry September 2026 drawsBetween August 31 and September 16, 2026, IRCC held seven Express Entry draws that together issued 9,117 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. They included a 3,500-invitation healthcare and social services draw (CRS 475), a physicians draw with a cutoff of 198, two Canadian Experience Class draws (CRS 521 and 519), two Provincial Nominee Program draws, and a senior managers draw on September 16 (CRS 389).
- F-1 D/S rule blockedOn September 14, 2026, one day before it was due to take effect, a federal judge in Massachusetts preliminarily blocked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule that would have replaced "duration of status" (D/S) with fixed admission periods of up to four years for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors. The order in Presidents' Alliance v. DHS applies nationwide, so the existing D/S system stays in place while the case continues. Separate SEVP guidance narrowing Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is not covered by the order.
- Interview pause correctionCorrection (October 13, 2026): This August 25 article reported a worldwide pause of US immigrant visa interviews for public charge training. We cannot substantiate that blanket claim, and the State Department currently says the National Visa Center schedules interviews at immigrant visa posts when a visa is available. Waits vary by post and category.
- CLINIC v. Rubio rulingOn August 21, 2026 the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, in CLINIC v. Rubio, vacated the State Department's policy that had paused immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries since January 21, 2026. Judge Jeannette A. Vargas found that the Secretary of State exceeded his authority by refusing visas by nationality instead of judging each applicant individually. The government has appealed to the Second Circuit, and the State Department confirmed on August 28 that the 75-country pause is no longer in effect. Its current scheduling tool shows immigrant visa interviews continue by post.
- Ontario Workforce Priority Stream opensThe expression of interest (EOI) portal for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program's new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream opened on August 4, 2026. The stream replaces eight OINP streams repealed on June 25, 2026, and has three pathways: TEER 0-3 jobs, TEER 4-5 jobs, and self-employed physicians. Ontario calls this the first of two phases.
- PGP intake pausedOn July 15, 2026 Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) paused new intake under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) until further notice. IRCC will not accept new interest to sponsor forms or invite new sponsors, but it keeps processing applications it already has, with a goal of 15,000 approvals in 2026. IRCC pointed families to the Super Visa, which allows visits of up to five years per entry.
- Low-wage LMIA list updateEmployment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) updated its list of places where it refuses to process low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs), effective July 10, 2026. For applications submitted from July 10 to October 8, 2026, 26 of Canada's 41 census metropolitan areas (CMAs) have unemployment of 6% or more, including Toronto, Montréal, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. The next update is due on October 9, 2026.
- Quebec PEQ reopensQuebec reopened the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) on July 2, 2026 for a temporary two-year period, with a first application window that closes on October 31, 2026 and no cap on applications. It is open to Quebec graduates and temporary foreign workers who met the study or work conditions by November 19, 2025, the day the program had closed. Applicants need spoken French at level 7 and written French at level 5.
General information, not legal advice. NorthAmericans.com is independent and not affiliated with any government.