World Visa Academy – Daily Global Visa & Immigration Update

Date: 18/08/2026

United States

Update – Immigration Benefits, 39 Travel Ban Countries

What it means

The First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on 14 August in the ongoing Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island v. USCIS litigation, allowing USCIS to resume its Comprehensive Re-Review Policy while the broader appeal continues. This policy lets USCIS pull back and re-examine previously approved green cards, work permits, and other benefits for people from the 39 travel ban countries who entered the US on or after January 20, 2021. The court left the rest of the district court's June ruling in place, meaning the separate Benefits Hold Policy and Country-Specific Factors Policy remain vacated and cannot be enforced.

This is a partial win for the government and a partial loss for applicants. New applications from the 39 countries continue processing normally, but anyone with an already approved benefit who entered after January 2021 can now be pulled back for another review.

Impact

Consultants with clients from the 39 travel ban countries who obtained a green card, work permit, or other benefit after entering the US from January 20, 2021 onward should tell them their case could be reopened for re-review, even though it was already approved. This does not affect new filings, which continue under normal processing.

Canada

Update – Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program

What it means

Ontario has issued clarification on how the redesigned Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program treats remote and hybrid workers, resolving a gap that had left employers and applicants unsure whether a worker's home location or their employer's office location determines eligibility under the Ontario Workforce Priority stream. The distinction matters because employers inside the Greater Toronto Area face higher revenue and staffing thresholds than employers elsewhere in the province.

Impact

Consultants with clients in remote or hybrid arrangements under an Ontario employer should check the newly clarified rules before submitting an Expression of Interest, since getting the work location classification wrong could mean applying against the wrong employer thresholds or losing regional points the applicant was counting on.

European Union / Schengen Area

Active Alert – Border Controls

What it means

Spain and Italy have now both implemented border controls on arrivals from each other's country, extending through September 2026, following continued irregular crossings into Ceuta that authorities fear could move onward into the wider Schengen area. This adds to the eight other Schengen countries, Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Sweden, already maintaining internal checks through September to December 2026.

Impact

Consultants with clients travelling between Spain and Italy specifically should now expect identity checks on that route as well, not just at the borders of the countries already flagged. Carrying a passport or national ID remains essential for any travel across these internal Schengen borders.

No major new policy changes or big announcements reported from Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Oceania, or South America today.

Country Wise Summary

Pro Tip for Immigration Consultants

When a court ruling is described as only "partial," read past the headline to see exactly which policy was affected. Treating a mixed ruling like today's Dorcas appeal decision as a full win or a full loss for either side can lead to advice that is wrong for the specific benefit type your client holds.