Canada
Government expands support for Quebec workers and employers
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that, effective 5 June 2026, it has expanded its temporary measure to support Quebec workers and employers.
Under the original measure, announced on 13 March 2026, eligible workers can get an employer‑specific work permit under the International Mobility Program, allowing them to keep working for their current employer for up to 12 more months. This gives the government of Quebec more time to review their eligibility for a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec) before they apply for permanent residence.
Since 5 June 2026, once a temporary foreign worker is found eligible under this public policy, their spouse or common-law partner can apply for an open work permit if they have valid temporary resident status in Canada (or if their status expired in the last 90 days).
The spouse or common-law partner must also be named on the principal applicant’s permanent selection application (Demande de sélection permanente) for Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program (Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés). The measure remains open until the end of 2026.
Costa Rica
New special temporary residence category to regularize pending asylum applicants
The General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners (DGME) has announced the creation of a special temporary supplementary category of residence for nationals of Colombia, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela with pending or denied asylum applications
The new route will be open to nationals of the above countries who submitted an asylum application between 1 June 2014 and 7 May 2026 which is pending or has been rejected or denied. Applicants must not have applied for any other immigration category, and must not meet the requirements for any other immigration category. Applicants must have a clean criminal record.
Applications can be submitted between 1 September 2026 and 1 September 2027 with a pre-booked appointment.
Successful applicants will be granted an identity document and the right to perform any paid work. They must register with DGME within 90 days of approval.
This status does not extend to the holder’s dependents – each family member must submit their own individual application.
More information is available in Spanish here under the tab “Categoría Temporal Complementaria”.
Hungary
Cancellation of guest worker route
The National Directorate for Aliens Policing (OIF) has announced that, effective 6 June 2026, the authorities will no longer accept applications for new guest worker residence permits.
Applications received by 5 June 2026 will continue to be processed provided the administrative submission fee has been paid. Existing permit holders can still apply for an extension or reissuance under the previous rules.
The suspension of the programme is the result of the entry into force, on 5 June 2026, of Government Decree no. 92/2026 on the amendment of Government Decree no. 450/2024 (of 23 December) on the employment of guest workers in Hungary, as well as the withdrawal of Notice no. 2/2025 specifying the list of qualifying countries. Since December 2024, the list has included only three countries – Armenia, Georgia and the Philippines.
The guest worker programme enabled preferential employers to hire third country nationals of qualifying countries to work in Hungary, including via temporary work agencies. The residence permit was valid for up to two years and could be extended for another year.
The amendment to the legislation does not affect the provisions governing applications for residence permits issued for other purposes. Further amendments to the legislation are expected in the future as the government has ordered a review.
Philippines
Processing of Alien Employment Permits now centralized
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has ordered the full centralization of the processing, evaluation, and issuance of Alien Employment Permits (AEPs) at the DOLE Central Office, effective 9 June 2026.
Under Administrative Order No. 199 of 2026, all DOLE Regional Offices will immediately stop accepting, processing, evaluating, and issuing both new and renewal AEP applications, with all transactions to be handled exclusively by the Central Office.
The centralization of AEP processing also supports the Department’s broader initiatives on systems optimization, streamlined service delivery, and more effective monitoring and auditing of regulatory processes nationwide.
Any AEP application received by the DOLE Regional Offices on or before the close of business hours on 8 June 2026 that remains pending will be immediately prepared for digital transfer to the DOLE Central Office.
Upon receipt, the Central Office shall assume full responsibility for the evaluation, processing, and disposition of pending applications. The applicable processing period will continue from the point at which the application was transferred.
The Bureau of Local Employment, meanwhile, will directly administer and implement the required local publication and labour market test procedures through a localized digital platform and coordinated labour registries, thereby ensuring the integrity and consistency of the domestic labour market vetting process.
To protect the sensitive personal information of foreign nationals and ensure compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012, the transfer of all records and application data will be completed within five calendar days from the effective date of the Administrative Order. The transfer will strictly adhere to established Data Transfer Protocols, including end-to-end encryption and verified chain-of-custody documentation.
South Africa
Government proposes new regulations for employment of foreign nationals
The government has introduced the Employment Services Amendment Bill, which proposes new measures to regulate the employment of foreign nationals and strengthen enforcement mechanisms.
Before recruiting a foreign worker, employers will be required to check, in a manner prescribed by regulation, that there are no suitably qualified South African citizens, permanent residents, refugees or asylum seekers available to fill the position.
Employers will also have to prepare a skills transfer plan (unless deemed impractical by the Ministry).
The bill will empower the Employment and Labour Minister to set quotas for the employment of foreign nationals in specific economic sectors and occupational categories, as proposed in the National Labour Migration Policy.
The Bill introduces substantially tougher penalties for employers who fail to comply with the new rules governing the employment of foreign nationals. Employers who breach the requirements could face escalating fines imposed by the Labour Court, ranging from up to ZAR 100 000 for a first offence, ZAR 200 000 for a repeat offence within three years, and up to ZAR 1 million or 10% of annual turnover for employers found guilty of multiple contraventions.
The Bill is currently before Parliament and will undergo the legislative process, including committee scrutiny and opportunities for public participation, before any amendments can be enacted into law.
Uganda
Registration of foreign nationals begins
The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has announced that the registration of foreign nationals will commence on 10 June 2026, according to the Registration of Persons Act.
The registration requirement applies to all foreign nationals lawfully resident in Uganda, except those visiting Uganda for a period not exceeding 90 days.
Upon successful registration, the NIRA will allocate a Unique Identification Number and issue an Alien Identification Card to every registered foreign national. The validity of the card will correspond to the validity period of the holder’s immigration permission.
The registration steps are as follows:
- Pre-register online here or complete Form 4;
- Generate a Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) assessment, obtain a Payment Registration Number and pay the prescribed fee of USD 100 through approved URA payment channels;
- Visit the NIRA registration centre at Lumumba Avenue Plot 62 (Wandegaya) for document verification, photograph capture and biometric enrolment.
Those registering must provide the following documents:
- A valid passport or equivalent travel document and a valid Uganda visa;
- A valid immigration permission, namely:
- Work permit;
- Student or pupil’s pass;
- Dependent’s pass;
- Certificate of residence;
- Special pass; or
- Any other immigration permission.
- Proof of payment of the prescribed registration fee.
United Kingdom
Government launches fast-track referral service and visa fees reimbursement scheme for scale up businesses
The government has announced measures to support scale-up businesses and high potential firms.
The Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for Scale Ups provides financial support to UK-based scale-ups operating in the Clean Energy, Life Sciences, and Digital and Technologies sectors. The scheme will reimburse eligible visa fees incurred on or after 9 June 2026.
Businesses can apply for funding up to GBP 25,000 per year, with a maximum award of £5,000.00 for each international hire and their dependants. There is limited funding available and it will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis: applications are processed in the order they are received, and grants are awarded until the total budget is fully allocated.
To qualify, a business must meet all the following criteria:
- be a UK-based Scale-Up: an enterprise that achieves an average annualised growth rate exceeding 20 per cent in either employment or turnover over a continuous three-year period (the observation period), starting with at least 10 employees at the beginning of this period;
- operate in at least one of the three priority sectors in the scope: Clean Energy, Life Sciences, and Digital and Technologies;
- hold a valid UK visa sponsor licence;
- have already established a presence in the UK;
- recruit eligible hire(s) under an immigration route designated as eligible for the Scheme which are the Skilled Worker, Global Talent, and Scale Up visa routes;
- pass DBT’s standard due diligence and assurance checks prior to grant award;
- have a valid UK bank account to receive reimbursements.
Meanwhile, the Office for Investment fast-track referral process for a UK Expansion Worker sponsor licence is intended to support eligible high-potential international businesses to expand into the United Kingdom more quickly. If accepted, processing time may take around 10 working days (versus 8 weeks standard).
To be eligible, businesses must:
- be receiving ongoing support from the Office for Investment (OfI);
- operate in one of the eight sectors identified as a priority under the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy;
- meet at least one of the following growth criteria:
- Has received at least GBP 1 million venture capital or institutional investment
- Has committed at least GBP 2 million capital investment for UK expansion
- Is part of a government-recognised, high-growth programme (for example, the Global Entrepreneur Programme).
Applications referred by OfI to the Home Office for fast-tracking that are later identified by the Home Office as complex will not be processed within 10 working days and will be subject to standard timelines.
United States
Federal court blocks suspension of immigration processing for 39 nationalities
On 6 June 2026, a federal district court issued a ruling that the suspension of processing of immigration applications for nationals of 39 countries in December 2025 and other related policies are unlawful, and that processing of pending applications from nationals of these countries must now resume.
The administration may appeal the decision and ask for a stay of the ruling.
Background
In June 2025, the administration announced a travel ban, barring nationals of 12 countries from entering the United States and partially restricting the entry of seven other nationalities. In December 2025, the administration extended the full ban on both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa issuance from the previous 12 countries to a new total of 19 countries plus the Palestinian Authority; and a partial ban on only immigrant visas and B, F, M and nonimmigrant visas from the previous four countries to a new total of 19 countries.
On 27 November 2025, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued new policy guidance stating that it would thenceforth consider relevant country-specific factors, such as inclusion in the travel ban, as significant negative factors in the adjudication of applications.
On 2 December 2025, USCIS issued a policy memorandum directing its personnel to hold and review all USCIS benefit requests for foreign nationals from the countries listed in the travel ban regardless of entry date; and to conduct a comprehensive re-review of approved benefit requests for nationals of those countries listed who entered the United States on or after 20 January 2021.
Federal court blocks USD 100,000 H-1B visa fee
On 8 June 2026, a federal district court issued an order declaring unlawful and vacating government policy which implements Presidential Proclamation 10973, Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers. This decision effectively blocks the USD 100,000 application fee for a new H-1B visa, effective immediately.
The presidential proclamation issued in September 2025 requires all H-1B petitions filed with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to be accompanied by a payment of USD 100,000.
The government is expected to appeal the decision. If a stay of the ruling is granted pending an appeal, the fee requirement could be reinstated without notice.
Introduction of new USD 750 fee for expedited B visa processing
The Department of State has proposed a temporary final rule (TFR) introducing an optional USD 750 fee for an expedited B1/B2, business and tourism, nonimmigrant visa (NIV) interview appointment.
This new fee will allow B1/B2 visa applicants who pay the fee to secure an interview appointment at selected posts within ten business days.
This service will be an optional premium addition to the standard NIV application fee and will be offered only to applicants at limited posts as published on travel.state.gov and in limited quantities. It is being offered as a proof-of-concept designed to assess demand from applicants for visas who seek to bypass longer wait times for visa interviews.
This temporary final rule is effective 1 July 2026 until 31 December 2026. Written comments must be received on or before 9 July 2026.
India Per-Country Limit Reached in the EB-5 Unreserved Category
The State Department has announced that, as of 5 June 2026, it has issued all available immigrant visas in the Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) unreserved category for applicants chargeable to India for fiscal year (FY) 2026.
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) limits the number of employment-based preference immigrant visas that may be issued within a fiscal year. Specifically, INA 203(b)(5) provides that the annual limit for EB-5 visas is 7.1 percent of the worldwide employment limit, of which 68 percent is available for unreserved visa categories (C5, T5, I5, R5, RU, NU). Additionally, the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 specifies that unused EB-5 reserved visas from FY 2024 may be made available in the EB-5 unreserved categories for FY 2026. Finally, INA 202(a)(2) establishes that natives of any single foreign state may not receive more than seven percent of the total of employment-based and family-sponsored visas, which is prorated among the different visa categories under INA 202(e).
Since all available EB-5 unreserved visas for applicants chargeable to India in FY 2026 have been used, embassies and consulates may not issue visas in these categories for the remainder of the fiscal year. The annual limits will reset with the start of the new fiscal year (FY 2027) on 1 October 2026. At that point, embassies and consulates may resume issuing immigrant visas in this category to qualified applicants