China’s new rules governing exit and entry intermediaries are now in force, bringing immigration and emigration agencies back under a national filing system eight years after the country abolished its previous licensing regime. The changes took effect on September 15, 2026, under State Council Order No. 841, which introduced a
Ireland is preparing its biggest overhaul of citizenship by naturalization rules in years, with the government backing plans to increase the general residence requirement from five years to eight and introduce language and civic knowledge tests. On September 9, 2026, the Irish government approved priority drafting of the Irish Nationality
US President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders seeking to restrict birthright citizenship in specific circumstances and strengthen enforcement against what his administration describes as “birth tourism.” The measures, signed on August 6, 2026, follow the administration’s defeat in Trump v. Barbara. In that case, the US Supreme Court
The United States is restoring a broader interpretation of the long-standing “public charge” ground of inadmissibility, giving immigration officers greater discretion to deny green card applications if they believe an applicant is likely to rely on public assistance in the future. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized the rule
As governments across Europe tighten immigration and nationality policies, citizenship by descent remains one of the most valuable—and often overlooked—pathways to obtaining European citizenship. Unlike residency or investment-based routes, citizenship by descent allows eligible individuals to claim nationality based on their family lineage. But eligibility rules vary significantly by country,
The United States and the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) have signed a new biometric data-sharing agreement aimed at strengthening border security, immigration screening, and identity verification across the Caribbean. The agreement also includes measures to strengthen security screening in the five Eastern Caribbean countries
The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to restrict birthright citizenship, reaffirming one of the country’s most enduring constitutional principles: that nearly everyone born on U.S. soil is a U.S. citizen. In a 6-3 decision issued on June 30, 2026, the Court ruled that
A federal judge has struck down the Trump administration’s controversial $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, ruling that the measure exceeded presidential authority and amounted to an unlawful tax. The decision, issued by U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston on 8 June, marks a significant setback for one
The U.S. immigration landscape shifted significantly on May 21, 2026, when U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199, reframing adjustment of status as “extraordinary relief” rather than a standard processing option for foreign nationals already living in the United States. The policy, announced publicly by USCIS on
The United States government has begun revoking passports of individuals with significant unpaid child support obligations as federal authorities increase enforcement under an existing law. According to the U.S. State Department, enforcement actions officially began on 8 May 2026 and initially target individuals owing more than US$100,000 in overdue child
