World Visa Academy – Daily Global Visa & Immigration Update

Date: 19/08/2026

United States

Big Alert – TPS Work Authorization

What it means

US District Judge Brian Murphy lifted the last remaining court order blocking termination of Temporary Protected Status for more than 5,000 Ethiopian nationals on 18 August, following the Supreme Court's June ruling that sharply limited how much federal courts can review DHS decisions on TPS. Ethiopia was the final country where a judicial block on a TPS termination remained active, after similar blocks were lifted for Somalia on 14 August and for South Sudan and Myanmar in recent weeks. Judge Murphy did allow the plaintiffs' separate claim, that racial discrimination motivated the termination, to proceed to the discovery phase, but this does not pause the termination itself.

Ethiopians under TPS must now leave the country within 60 days or risk deportation, and their TPS-based work permits are no longer valid once the termination takes effect.

Impact

Consultants with Ethiopian TPS clients should treat this as an active, time-limited situation rather than a future risk. Advise clients on the 60-day departure window immediately, flag that employers must reverify affected employees' work authorization, and note that a discrimination claim continuing in court does not protect anyone from removal while it plays out.

United States

Big Alert – Student And Exchange Visitor Status

What it means

University associations and labor unions filed a lawsuit on 18 August seeking to block DHS's final rule eliminating "duration of status" admissions for F, J, and I nonimmigrants, which is set to take effect 15 September. The rule would end the long standing practice of admitting students, exchange visitors, and foreign media representatives for the length of their program, replacing it with a fixed admission period of up to four years, after which an extension of stay application would be required.

The plaintiffs argue the change will be damaging for universities, international students and the country, warning it will discourage foreign students from choosing the US and create new risk of falling out of status partway through a degree.

Impact

Consultants with clients on F, J, or I status should continue preparing for the 15 September effective date and not assume the lawsuit will pause it, since no injunction has been granted yet. Clients nearing the end of a multi-year program should start mapping out when an extension of stay filing might become necessary under the new fixed period system.

United States

Update – Nonimmigrant Visa Interviews

What it means

The State Department has expanded its paid expedite pilot for B-1/B-2 visitor visa interviews beyond the original Mission Mexico posts, adding additional consular locations as of 18 August. Eligible applicants at participating posts can pay 750 dollars on top of the standard 185 dollar visa fee to secure an interview within 10 business days, subject to availability. The fee only affects how quickly an interview is scheduled, not how quickly the case is adjudicated afterward.

Impact

Consultants with clients facing urgent travel who are applying at a newly added post should check the State Department's website for current participation before promising this option is available, since coverage is limited and posts are added gradually. Make clear to clients that paying the fee guarantees a faster interview slot only, not a faster decision or approval.

South Africa

Effective Today – Electronic Travel Authorization

What it means

South Africa's Department of Home Affairs has adopted its draft amendments introducing a ZAR 500, about 30 US dollar, processing fee for Electronic Travel Authorization applications, effective 17 August. The ETA platform had operated without a processing fee since its October 2025 launch because online payment functionality was not yet available.

Impact

Consultants with clients from the countries currently covered by South Africa's ETA pilot should factor the new fee into every application going forward and confirm the online payment step completes correctly, since this is the first time payment has been required on the platform.

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

Pro Tip for Immigration Consultants

When a judicial block on an immigration policy is lifted, check whether any separate claim in the same case is still alive. Today's Ethiopia TPS ruling shows why: a discrimination claim continuing in court can create false reassurance for a client if a consultant assumes the entire case, and the protection with it, is still open.