The Briefing

What changed, assembled from primary sources. No opinion, no analysis — just what moved and where to verify it.

Taking effect

• 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee for H-1B and L-1 Visas — effective September 9, 2026
• Adjudication of Civil Penalties Against International Marriage Brokers — effective September 10, 2026
• Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media — effective September 15, 2026
• Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility — effective September 18, 2026
• Schedule of Fees for Consular Services, Department of State and Overseas Embassies and Consulates-Visa and Citizenship Services Fee Changes; Correction — effective September 12, 2104

Visa Bulletin — August 2026

• Family-sponsored: Dates for Filing
• Employment-based: Final Action Dates

Comment periods closing

• Flight Manifest/Billing Agreement — comments close August 19, 2026
• Agency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Request for Fee Waiver — comments close August 24, 2026
• Naturalization Application Fee Adjustments — comments close August 24, 2026
• Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule; Sponsor Assessment Update To Include Proof of Identity, Background Check, Placement, and Income Verification Standards — comments close August 25, 2026
• Alien Registration Form and Evidence of Registration — comments close August 28, 2026
• 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Petition To Classify Special Immigrant Under INA 203(b)(4) as an Employee or Former Employee of the U.S. Government Abroad, or the Surviving Spouse or Child of an Employee of the U.S. Government Abroad — comments close August 28, 2026

In the courts

• Vejar Quinones v. USCIS — 2026-08-15, District Court, C.D. California
• People of La Junta for Preservation v. Department of Homeland Security — 2026-08-14, District Court, W.D. Texas
• Xu v. U.S Department of Homeland Security — 2026-08-14, District Court, N.D. California
• Mneva v. Edlow, Director of USCIS — 2026-08-14, District Court, N.D. Illinois
• CELIK v. USCIS — 2026-08-14, District Court, N.D. Illinois
• Lago Varela v. Figueroa — 2026-08-14, District Court, D. Puerto Rico
• Gonzalez Torrado v. Figueroa — 2026-08-14, District Court, D. Puerto Rico
• Makhatadze v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) — 2026-08-14, District Court, E.D. New York