1. Court Extends the Timeline for the DV-2027 Green Card Lottery
October 15, 2026
A federal court gave the U.S. Department of State additional time to launch the DV-2027 Diversity Visa lottery.
New deadlines:
- by October 29 - publish instructions and registration dates;
- by November 1 - open registration;
- registration must remain open for 30 days;
- by December 3 - notify selected applicants.
The lottery is not open yet. November 1 is the deadline for opening registration, not necessarily the actual start date.
Source: Federal Court
2. New USCIS Immigration Fees Take Effect Today
October 16, 2026
The following increased fees take effect today:
- annual fee for a pending I-589: $102 → $105;
- initial I-765 for certain categories: $560 → $570;
- TPS application on Form I-821: $510 → $520;
- separate Parole fee: $1,020 → $1,050.
The initial filing fee for Form I-589 remains $100. The new amounts apply to applications submitted on or after October 16.
Source: Federal Register
3. USCIS Sued Over Accelerated Asylum Interviews for Children
October 15, 2026
Six organizations filed a lawsuit challenging sharply shortened preparation periods for minors scheduled for asylum interviews.
According to the plaintiffs, some children are receiving interview notices only 24 hours in advance, while previously they typically received at least 21 days. The court has not yet stopped the practice.
Source: CNN
4. California Sues ICE Over Immigration Arrests at Courthouses
October 15, 2026
California is asking a federal court to stop ICE from carrying out civil immigration arrests inside and around state courthouses.
According to state officials, after ICE changed its policy, the number of such arrests increased by more than 550%. The new lawsuit does not yet prohibit ICE from continuing these operations.
Source: California DOJ
5. Court Upholds New York Restrictions on Local Cooperation With ICE
October 15, 2026
A federal court dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit challenging New York laws that limit cooperation between local authorities and ICE.
The court ruled that the federal government cannot force local police to hold people at ICE's request or provide information about their release unless federal law creates such an obligation.
The decision does not prevent ICE officers from carrying out their own arrests.
Source: Reuters
I-GUIDE is an independent informational project and is not affiliated with USCIS, DHS, EOIR, or any other U.S. government agency. This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
