Department of Labor information:
DOL Latest News
March was a landmark month for policy shifts at the Department of Labor. On March 27, 2026, the DOL published a major Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) aimed at overhauling the methodology for calculating prevailing wages. This proposal seeks to significantly increase wage levels across the board for PERM and H-1B programs. If finalized, entry-level (Level I) wage requirements could see an increase of over 30%, a move the Department claims will better protect the wages of U.S. workers but will undoubtedly increase costs for employers sponsoring foreign labor.
In other news, Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer officially concluded her "America at Work" 50-state listening tour in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this month. The insights gathered from this year-long initiative are expected to form the basis for upcoming "America First" labor reforms. Additionally, the Department launched the "Make America AI-Ready" initiative, signaling a shift toward integrating high-tech literacy into the federal workforce development agenda, which may influence how the DOL evaluates future job market needs in the unskilled sector.
March 2026
March 2026 BDV Immigration Update
As the second quarter of the fiscal year concludes, March has proven to be a pivotal month for the EB-3 unskilled category. While the mid-year point often brings anxiety regarding visa availability, the current landscape shows a Department of State committed to maintaining momentum. At BDV, our operations have scaled to meet this demand, ensuring that while the wheels of government bureaucracy turn, your specific case remains a priority. This month was characterized by significant regulatory proposals from the Department of Labor that may reshape the financial landscape of future filings, making the progress we see now even more critical.
BDV Approvals (March 2026):
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16 - Green Card approvals
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402 - Labor Certification (PERM) approvals
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146 - I-140 approvals
USCIS Visa Bulletin
The April 2026 Visa Bulletin has been released, and it brings continued stability for the "Other Workers" category. USCIS has confirmed it will continue to honor the Dates for Filing chart for April, providing a wider window for those ready to submit their adjustment of status applications.
- Final Action Date: 01NOV21 (No movement)
- Dates for Filing: 01AUG22 (No movement)
Because USCIS is utilizing the Dates for Filing chart, applicants with a priority date before August 1, 2022, are eligible to file their I-485 applications this month. While the "Final Action" date stayed steady, the ability to file earlier remains a significant advantage for those in the final stages of their journey.