Major U.S. Immigration Updates in Early 2026 You Should Know (H-1B, Visas, Students, EADs, Green Cards, Fees & Travel)

U.S. immigration policies continue to shift in early 2026. Federal agencies such as USCIS, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. Department of State (DOS), and the White House have made it clear that immigration processing is becoming more compliance-driven, documentation-focused, and enforcement-oriented.

For individuals and employers, this means that assumptions based on prior years may no longer apply. Small errors, delays, or inconsistencies can now have larger consequences.

This article explains the most important immigration updates in early 2026 in clear, simple language, so readers can understand what is changing and how to prepare.