Planning a PERM labor market testing ad campaign involves conducting good-faith recruitment to prove no qualified, willing, and available U.S. workers exist for the permanent, full-time position, as required by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for EB-2 and EB-3 green cards. This "test" must occur 30-180 days before filing the PERM application (Form ETA-9089) and includes mandatory steps plus additional recruitment for professional roles. Step 1: Preparation Before Recruitm

In this compelling episode of the Immigration Nerds podcast , host Lauren Clark , Managing Attorney at Erickson Immigration Group, sits down with Shev Dalal-Dheini , Senior Director of Government Relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), to unpack a landmark initiative: AILA’s “A Better Way on Immigration” policy brief series. One year into the current administration’s immigration agenda, this episode delivers a data-driven, clear-eyed assessment of wh

U.S. Immigration News Middle East Tensions Throw Visa Processing Into Chaos Escalating military tensions involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran are disrupting visa services across parts of the Middle East. Several U.S. embassies have canceled routine appointments, airspace closures are grounding flights, and some diplomatic personnel have been directed to shelter in place. The State Department is advising Americans in multiple countries to depart on commercial flights while the

U.S. Immigration News March Visa Bulletin Brings Movement in Employment Categories The State Department released the March 2026 Visa Bulletin with some welcome news for employment-based applicants. EB-4 advanced nearly two years worldwide, EB-2 India moved forward 11 months, and EB-2 became "Current" for most countries outside China and India. Family-based categories saw more modest gains, with limited movement in F-2A and a four-month advance for the Philippines in F-3. The

U.S. Immigration News Minneapolis Immigration Surge Winds Down After Fatal Shootings The Trump administration announced it will wind down "Operation Metro Surge" in Minneapolis, weeks after federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens during enforcement actions. Border czar Tom Homan confirmed a "significant drawdown" of personnel, though routine immigration enforcement will continue in the area. DHS reported more than 4,000 arrests during the operation but did not specify h

Last week's round-up of the biggest, need-to-know immigration news U.S. Immigration News H-1B Season Is Coming, Mark Your Calendars (and Your Budgets) The FY 2027 H-1B registration window opens at noon Eastern on March 4 and slams shut on March 19. Employers must register online and pay a $215 fee per entry, with lottery results expected by March 31. But here's the kicker: DHS wage-weighted selection rules mean higher-paid roles get priority, and some employers could face a j

February 02, 2026  •  Your Weekly Roundup Another week, another whirlwind of immigration headlines. From shrinking population numbers that should have every employer sweating, to ICE agents heading to the Olympics (yes, really), the news cycle didn’t disappoint. We’ve done the heavy lifting so you don’t have to, here’s what happened last week and, more importantly, what it means for your PERM recruitment and labor certification strategy. U.S. IMMIGRATION NEWS 1. Minnesota St

A conversation with Hiba Mona Anver reveals why the world's most consequential economic strategy isn't about tariffs or interest rates, it's about who gets to work where. When Hiba Mona Anver, partner at Erickson Immigration Group, sat down for The Davos Interviews at this year's World Economic Forum, she didn't mince words about what's really at stake in global immigration debates. "Innovation drives economic growth, but talent drives innovation," Anver said. "Companies that

"Operation Catch of the Day": ICE Turns Maine Into Latest Enforcement Battleground The Trump administration   launched   a new immigration enforcement operation in Maine, aptly named "Operation Catch of the Day." The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids began this week amid escalating tensions between President Trump and Maine Governor Janet Mills. Local officials in Portland warned that the operation has left immigrant comm

USCIS freezes processing for travel-ban countries, ICE deploys 2,000 agents to Minneapolis, 900,000+ TPS holders lose protections. Critical PERM strategies for employers as temporary immigration pathways collapse. USCIS Hits the Pause Button on Travel-Ban Countries, Including Green Cards U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services formally expanded  its processing freeze to cover nationals from all countries listed in President Trump's expanded travel ban proclamation. The dire

Major regulatory shift reshapes high-skilled immigration landscape beginning February 2027 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has finalized substantive changes to H-1B visa selection procedures, transitioning from a randomized lottery system to a wage-weighted selection model that prioritizes higher compensation levels. The final rule becomes effective February 27, 2026, with first implementation during the FY 2027 H-1B cap registration period. This represents the most

H-1B Lottery Gets a Makeover: Welcome to the Wage Wars The Department of Homeland Security announced a complete overhaul of the H-1B lottery system, replacing random selection with a weighted process that prioritizes higher-paid, higher-skilled workers. Starting with the FY 2027 cap season, positions at the highest wage levels could receive up to four lottery entries, while lower-paid roles in the same job family get just one. The administration frames this as an anti-abuse m

Your weekly roundup of the biggest, need-to-know immigration news If last week felt unusually heavy for immigration policy, that’s because it was. From sweeping suspensions and expanded travel bans to new compliance hurdles and growing corporate pressure, the headlines signal a tighter, more volatile environment for both foreign nationals and the employers who rely on them. Diversity Visa Lottery Gets the Pause Button After Campus Tragedies The Trump administration suspended

If you felt like immigration policy took a sharp turn toward wealth, surveillance, and global competition last week, you weren’t imagining it. From a $1 million fast-track visa to canceled H-1B interviews and Canada actively recruiting U.S. talent, here’s what employers need to know and why it matters for workforce strategy. 💳 Trump's "Gold Card" Visa: Immigration's New VIP Lane The Trump administration launched its controversial "gold card" visa program this week, complete

From paused processing to detention at marriage interviews, last week delivered a stark reminder: that the immigration landscape can shift overnight. Here’s what employers, HR teams, and immigration partners need to know. 🛑 Processing Paused for Immigration Applications From 19 Countries The federal government has paused  immigration application processing; including green cards, citizenship, and work permits for 19 countries already under existing travel restrictions. The s

Last week was packed with sweeping policy proposals, new fees, and a shiny new “gold card” program that promises fast-track residency with a seven-figure price tag. Here’s what employers need to know, and what each development signals for the future of workforce immigration and PERM strategy. 🏛️ DHS Publishes Proposed Public Charge Rule — And It’s a Big One DHS has released a proposed rule  that would overhaul the 2022 public charge framework , dramatically expanding what o

Your weekly roundup of the biggest immigration developments If you missed last week’s updates, you’re not alone. Policy proposals, enforcement surges, and new data across the talent landscape all dropped at once. Here’s everything employers should know, and why it matters for long-term workforce planning. 🏛️ Federal Government Proposes Major Changes to the Public Charge Rule Federal agencies have   proposed   a new version of the public charge regulation one that would broa

Your weekly roundup of the biggest, need-to-know immigration stories you missed... If you blinked last week, you might’ve missed some major immigration headlines. From ICE check-ins turning into detentions to international deals for deportees and even a culinary case for inclusion. Here’s your quick catch-up and what each story means for the workforce landscape. ⚖️ Immigration Crackdown Intensifies at San Diego Federal Courthouse ICE agents have been conducting “check-in” ses

Shutdown Stalling Trump’s DOL Agenda The prolonged government shutdown is putting the brakes on the Trump administration’s labor agenda. Anticipated rule changes  aimed at reversing Biden-era labor policies are now delayed along with new immigration enforcement initiatives. Roughly three-fourths of the Department of Labor’s workforce remains furloughed, freezing nearly all workplace dispute investigations. However, in response to mounting pressure from the agricultural indust

Your weekly roundup of the biggest, need-to-know immigration news you missed 💰 New $1,000 Immigration Parole Fee Now in Effect The Department of Homeland Security has  officially launched  a $1,000 parole fee , effective October 16, 2025 , applying to individuals granted parole into or within the United States. That includes humanitarian parole, parole in place, re-parole, and parole from DHS custody. Applicants with a pending green card (adjustment of status) are exempt, a