ABIL Global Update • June 2026

Headlines:

1. IMMIGRATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR IRANIANS: AN OVERVIEW – This article provides an update on immigration opportunities for Iranians in several countries.

2. CANADA – The government has released official details for the permanent residence pathway for 33,000 workers. In other news, a PGWP language test upload slot has been added to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada portal; temporary travel measures have been implemented in response to the Ebola outbreak in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo; IRCC is seeking Express Entry reform consultations; and changes are coming to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.

3. UNITED KINGDOM – The Home Office has issued new sponsor guidance. An expansion of right-to-work checks is also on the way.

New Publications and Items of Interest – New Publications and Items of Interest

ABIL Member / Firm News – ABIL Member / Firm News

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ABIL Global Immigration Update – June 2026

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1. IMMIGRATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR IRANIANS: AN OVERVIEW

This article provides an update on immigration opportunities for Iranians in several countries.

Spain

Despite the current situation in Iran and temporary limitations affecting consular services, Spanish authorities have implemented alternative mechanisms to ensure that migration procedures and legal mobility channels remain available for Iranian nationals wishing to relocate to Spain.

While visa applications and legalizations cannot currently be processed in Tehran, Iranian citizens may continue applying for Spanish residence visas through the embassies and consulates of Spain in Ankara, Amman, Beirut, Damascus, Istanbul, and Yerevan via the corresponding BLS offices. In parallel, Spain has also enabled a reverse legalization mechanism, allowing legal validation procedures to be carried out through the Iranian diplomatic representation in Spain. This measure facilitates the acceptance of public documents requiring legalization and helps maintain administrative continuity for Iranian applicants seeking residence permits, family reunification, studies, or professional opportunities in Spain.

Applicants are advised to remain attentive to official announcements and updates published through the embassy’s website and social media channels.

Italy

Iranian nationals, if meeting the requirements, can potentially apply for any Italian visa available to foreign citizens. At present, given the current geopolitical situation, the Embassy of Italy in Tehran has temporarily relocated to Baku, Azerbaijan. Iranian citizens may submit their visa applications at any Italian embassy or consular office that they are able to reach from Iran and in a country in which they can legally stay. For information on the countries where Iranian citizens can travel, or to request a visa appointment, applicants should email [email protected], specifying the type of visa requested and any family ties with European Union (EU) citizens.

Below is a non‑exhaustive list of immigration paths to Italy:

Other options:

Iranian citizens already in Italy who cannot return safely or renew their permits, given the current social, political, and security crisis in Iran and the serious risks of persecution and harm, have the possibility to apply for asylum or international protection in Italy.

Türkiye

The Turkish immigration system does not ban any nationality from entry or acquiring status, and does not have quotas or limitations on any particular nationality. Therefore, Iranian nationals, even those traveling on an Iranian passport only, do not encounter particular limitations or restrictions.

Additionally, Iranians have long benefited from visa-free travel into Türkiye for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days within 180 days. Iranians wishing to obtain a work permit or other resident status may apply without any special restrictions or limitations. Given that Iran shares a border with Türkiye, Türkiye has long hosted a large Iranian expatriate population. Many Iranians residing in Türkiye also purchase real estate and apply for citizenship. Applicants face mostly the same background check procedure as required for other nationalities.

Note, though, that a Turkish consular post may not always be processing visas during hostilities. Lastly, although Turkish Airlines has long engaged in direct flights to and from Iran, during hostilities those flights may not always be operational.

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2. CANADA

The government has released official details for the permanent residence pathway for 33,000 workers. In other news, a PGWP language test upload slot has been added to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada portal; temporary travel measures have been implemented in response to the Ebola outbreak in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo; IRCC is seeking Express Entry reform consultations; and changes are coming to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.

Permanent Residence Pathway for 33,000 Workers

After much hype and speculation about the government’s permanent residence (PR) pathway for 33,000 workers, including a report in the Toronto Star on March 6, 2026, in which Lena Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), announced the “soft launch” of this pathway, the government has now officially released details.

There is currently no official program that is separate from existing ones, but rather, IRCC has, since January 2026, been targeting PR applicants in rural and remote communities by accelerating the processing of PR applications for eligible workers who have applied under existing programs. These include the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, the community immigration pilots, the caregiver pilots, and the AgriFood Pilot. IRCC also has accelerated processing of the PR applications of those who have been living in smaller communities for two years or more. IRCC plans to transition 20,000 of these workers to PR status in 2026 and the remaining 13,000 in 2027. No separate PR program has been announced.

Many individuals and businesses will be disappointed with this announcement as they had hoped there would be a new pathway to PR that would reward those with solid track records of legally working and contributing to the communities they live in.

PGWP Language Test Upload Slot Added to the Portal

Since November 2024, there has been significant confusion with respect to the new requirement to include a proof-of-language assessment with a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) application—specifically, where and how to upload the language test results in the IRCC application portal. This resulted in many students having their PGWP refused and having to seek reconsideration and/or restoration of status. IRCC has now introduced a dedicated upload slot. Applicants must select the “Proof of Language Proficiency” slot to upload their language test results. Previously, applicants had to upload their results in one of the other slots, such as “Client Information.” Many applicants did not know about the new requirement or how to utilize the other slot, or they just forgot to include it because there was no dedicated portal.

Graduates of a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctoral degree, or any program from a university must achieve CLB 7 for English or NCLC 7 for French in all four language abilities: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Graduates of a college, polytechnic, or non-university program must achieve CLB 5 or NCLC 5 in all four language abilities.

Temporary Travel Measures in Response to the Ebola Outbreak in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

The government announced that as of May 27, 2026, it has suspended for 90 days, or until August 25, 2026, immigration documents for people residing in countries that have a high or very high risk of outbreak of the Ebola Bundibugyo virus. As of June 1, 2026, these countries include the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, and South Sudan. This means that those with a valid temporary resident visa (TRV), electronic travel authorization (eTA), or permanent resident visa who reside in these countries will not be allowed to travel to Canada during this period. It is unclear if those already issued a permanent resident visa who are now unable to proceed to Canada to be landed will need to ask IRCC to extend the validity and submit new medical examinations for this purpose.

From May 30, 2026, until August 29, 2026, Canadian citizens, permanent residents, persons registered under the Indian Act, and foreign nationals who have been in these areas within the previous 21 days and do not show symptoms of the Ebola disease must quarantine for 21 days upon entering Canada.

As the Ebola Bundibugyo virus continues to spread in the eastern DRC, this announcement comes a few weeks before hundreds of thousands of international visitors will visit Canada as Vancouver and Toronto are set to host games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA World Cup games will be hosted in cities across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

Express Entry Reform Consultations

IRCC is seeking consultations as it contemplates updating program requirements for the Express Entry and Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points used to invite Economic Class candidates for permanent residence. IRCC has proposed simplifying Express Entry by merging the three Express Entry classes—the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, and Federal Skilled Trades Program—into one program.

It has proposed that the minimum requirements for this program are to have:

IRCC has also proposed adding a high-wage occupation factor for CRS points in which occupations where the median wage throughout Canada is higher than the median wage of all Canadians would provide further points. This factor would depend on an applicant’s work experience in the occupation with a higher median wage rather than the applicant’s wage being high.

OINP Changes to Come

As of May 30, 2026, the Ontario government’s amendments to the Ontario Immigration Act to allow it to make changes more easily to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) have come into force. Actual changes to the OINP have not yet been finalized, but the Ontario government has announced that it is redesigning the OINP.

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3. UNITED KINGDOM

The Home Office has issued new sponsor guidance. An expansion of right-to-work checks is also on the way.

A recent previous Home Office guidance update said that sponsors needed to perform additional right-to-work checks on “any worker” they “directly engage.” There was a lack of clarity on what this meant and who sponsors needed to check. The Home Office has now issued new sponsor guidance that reverts to the previous, much simpler position. In summary, sponsors only need to check the right to work of (1) everyone they sponsor, regardless of employment status; and (2) all other employees.

This is good news and will be a relief for many sponsors. However, new legislation is on the way that will expand right-to-work checks to non-employees. This will apply to all employers and sponsors. The new legislation is in section 48 of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act. Section 48 could be in force as soon as October 1, 2026.

Given that section 48 will mean employers need to check the right to work of those under a worker’s contract (people who have the status of a worker in employment law), individual subcontractors, and those providing a service under any online matching service, employers should start to prepare for that now. Preparations could involve auditing the workforce and labor supply chains, reviewing contracts and onboarding processes, and training human resources staff.

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5. New Publications and Items of Interest

Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers:

• ABIL is available on X (formerly Twitter): @ABILImmigration
• Recent ABIL member blogs are at http://www.abilblog.com/

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ABIL Member / Firm News

Dagmar Butte and Vic Goel were quoted by Forbes in New Immigration Restrictions On H-1B Visas And Students Are Coming. Ms. Butte said, “Processing times are getting longer and longer. We are filing everything premium or upgrading when timing becomes critical, such as when the 240-day authorization for timely filed extensions is about to run out.” She noted that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is not adjudicating some cases despite the $100,000 fee having been paid, even if the filing is premium. She said that USCIS also has demanded $100,000 in cases where it is not required. “I think the wheels have come off the bus,” she said. Ms. Butte noted that USCIS is sending Requests for Evidence (RFEs) that challenge wage levels on certified labor condition applications (LCAs) even when employers use the LCA wage calculation worksheet, including on extensions. “Not only does this go beyond USCIS jurisdiction, but their adjudicators do not have any training, nor do they use the tools provided by DOL to make the proper determination. We are starting to submit the worksheet with our petitions.” “Dagmar’s observation about wage-level RFEs matches exactly what I am seeing,” said Mr. Goel, who noted that “the trigger” is the addition of five new questions to the revised Form I-129 (edition 02/27/26). These questions create a “structural problem,” he said, by requiring petitioners to state, under penalty of perjury, their education level, qualifying fields of study, years of experience, special skills, and the supervisory scope associated with the proffered position. “A strong specialty occupation argument therefore emphasizes the position’s complexity, the depth of expertise required, and the advanced qualifications the role demands. The appropriate prevailing wage level, on the other hand, is determined by reference to the minimum qualifications required to perform the position’s duties, i.e., what an entry-level, qualified, experienced, or fully competent worker in that occupation would need, benchmarked against the Department of Labor’s O*NET occupational database. These are related but distinct inquiries, and what strengthens one can undermine the other.” He noted that questions added as part of a rulemaking about the weighted H-1B lottery registration process apply to all H-1B petitions on the new form, including extensions, amendments, changes of employer, and cap-exempt filings at universities and nonprofits, not just cap-subject petitions. “They do not tell petitioners that their answers to Questions 7 through 11 will be run through the DOL’s prevailing wage level analysis framework, or that stating a higher experience requirement may simultaneously support the specialty occupation argument and generate [an RFE] challenging the labor condition application wage level. But that is precisely what is happening. USCIS adjudicators are mapping petitioners’ answers directly onto the DOL’s prevailing wage level analysis and issuing RFEs when they conclude that the certified LCA wage level is lower than the stated requirements would support.”

Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP, was named among the “Best Companies to Work For” by U.S. News & World Report for 2026 in the Law Firms category for the third year in a row.

Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP, has announced that four of its partners have been ranked in the 2026 Lexicology Index: H. Ronald Klasko and William Stock (Global Elite Thought Leaders), Elise Fialkowski (Thought Leader), and Michele Madera (Highly Recommended).

Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP, has published a new blog post: AOS: SOL? No, Just SOS.

Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP, has published a podcast episode: ICE Approaching: Preparing Your Company and Your People, and an accompanying blog post.

Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP, has published a podcast episode: Episode 35 (Part 1): I-9 Compliance Made Practical: What Employers Need to Know. An accompanying blog post is also available.

Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP, has published a new podcast episode in its Worksite Compliance series: Episode 36: I-9 Notice of Inspection: Preparing in Advance.

Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP, has published several new client alerts: New USCIS Policy Limiting Adjustment of Status: What You Need to Know, Ebola Travel Restrictions to the U.S. From Countries Impacted by Outbreak, How the Elimination of “D/S” May Affect F, J, and I Visa Holders, Avoiding PERM Pitfalls: Takeaways From DOJ’s Lawsuit Against Cloudera and DOL’s Enforcement Action, Blanche v. Lau: What Every Green Card Holder Needs to Know, and Expanded Social Media Screening, Continuing Trend of Heightened Scrutiny in Visa Applications.

Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP, held a webinar, “New USCIS Adjustment of Status Policy: Key Considerations and Recommendations for Employers,” on May 28, 2026. Key topics included pending and future case considerations; workforce planning impacts; employee communication considerations; travel and consular processing delays; and risk mitigation strategies for human resources and legal teams. Registration for the live event has ended, but you can register to watch it on demand.

Charles Kuck, of Kuck Baxter, was quoted by the New York Times in Can a U.S. Citizen Become Colombia’s President? Commenting on the fact that acts that might appear inconsistent with U.S. citizenship, such as running for foreign office, do not necessarily result in loss of citizenship, Mr. Kuck said, “It’s certainly not unprecedented and it really just depends on the country’s laws.”

Mr. Kuck was quoted by the Washington Post in Trump Administration Begins Making New Requests of Green-Card Applicants. Regarding a new USCIS policy requiring many adjustment of status applicants to apply outside the United States, he said, “People are generally freaking out. I have had multiple calls since Friday with people asking about when they have to leave the U.S.”

Mr. Kuck was quoted by the New York Times in Confusion and Worry After Trump Administration’s Abrupt Green Card Changes. “This is simply an attempt to slow immigration and make immigration so unpleasant that you go home,” he said. Mr. Kuck noted that the changes will be of particular concern to those who are married to U.S. citizens and seeking permanent residence.

Mr. Kuck was quoted by MSN in U.S. Immigration System Has a Backlog of 11.3 Million Pending Applications. Mr. Kuck said, “By the end of 2028, we will pine for the days of a functioning legal immigration system because it will effectively not exist by the end of the Trump term.”

Maggio Kattar has published a new article: USCIS Announces New Policy Limiting Adjustment of Status Eligibility.

Cyrus Mehta was quoted by Forbes in Immigration Service May Significantly Restrict Green Cards in the U.S. Forbes quoted Mr. Mehta’s comment on X: “While adjustment of status is discretionary under INA 245, it has never been interpreted as an extraordinary form of relief and USCIS is inventing a new standard to deprive noncitizens from getting green cards in the U.S.” He said that interpreting “may” in INA 245(a) as “extraordinary” is a “giant unfaithful leap” and that the Supreme Court decision in Loper Bright about deference to federal agencies “should allow a court to strike the USCIS memo as being contrary to the statute and also because there was no notice and comment.”

Mr. Mehta was quoted by the Times of India in Massive, Absurd: Immigration Experts, Foreign-Born Founder React to New Green Card Rule. The Times quoted Mr. Mehta’s comment on X: “While adjustment of status is discretionary under INA 245, it has never been interpreted as an extraordinary form of relief and USCIS is inventing a new standard to deprive noncitizens from getting green cards in the U.S.”

Mr. Mehta was quoted by Forbes in Will Dispute Led ICE To Put 85-Year-Old Widow In Immigration Detention. He said he believes the case raises ethical and legal issues. “There are federal rules at 5 CFR 2635.701 that prohibit a government official from using public office for private gain. If a government official used official authority or non-public information to weaponize ICE against another, such as a noncitizen, this could trigger sanctions such as reprimand, suspension, demotion or firing. It can also potentially lead to criminal liability. Regarding the governmental attorneys who may authorize such an action or have knowledge of it, they too are subject to the rules of professional conduct in their state bar jurisdictions.” He noted that the American Bar Association Model Rule 8.4 or its state bar analog “provides a basis for disciplining an attorney who engages in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation or conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.”

Mr. Mehta was interviewed by Amy Goodman of Democracy Now on the retaliatory firing of Immigration Judges (IJs) when they have ruled against the Trump administration. He said that the firing of so many IJs was “egregious” because noncitizens will be “subject to the ruling of judges that are under pressure.”

Mr. Mehta was quoted by the Times of India in USCIS Drops Appeal in EB-1A Case, Lower Court Ruling Will Have Persuasive Value for Green Card Applicants. He said, “By withdrawing the appeal, USCIS avoided the risk of an adverse appellate ruling while leaving the district court judgment intact.”

Mr. Mehta was quoted by Times Now in ‘Trump’s Power Has Limits’: U.S. Immigration Experts on Why H-1B Fee Was Struck Down and What Next. He said, “This district court decision is a major victory for H-1B employers and a sharp reminder that presidential power under INA § 212(f) has real limits.” He also noted that the court “rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to use § 212(f) to impose a flat $100,000 ‘supplemental payment’ on every new H-1B petition.” Mr. Mehta pointed out that “[a]gencies may not condition H-1B approval on payment of the vacated $100,000 charge. H-1B costs are again limited to the statutory charges Congress has enacted.” He said that at present, “this ruling will only impact those who have already been selected in the H-1B lottery either this year or in previous years and are outside the U.S. An employer who files an H-1B petition for a prospective H-1B worker who is outside the U.S. will no longer have to pay the $100,000 fee. Also, [for] one who may have fallen out of status in the U.S. and has to leave the U.S. to obtain an H-1B visa stamp at a U.S. consulate, their employer who files the H-1B petition also does not need to pay the $100,000 fee.” The article includes additional quotes from Mr. Mehta.

Mr. Mehta was quoted by Bloomberg Law in Congress’ Taxing Power Key to Trump Loss on $100,000 H-1B Fee. He said that several court decisions show that INA § 212(f) cannot be wielded as broadly as the Trump administration would like, and that “[t]here’s more power to that argument since Learning Resources. It’s moved the needle in favor of plaintiffs challenging the $100,000 fee now.”

Mr. Mehta authored several new blog posts: Think Immigration: Using Loper Bright to Advocate for Your Clients in Immigration Cases and Think Immigration: A Focus on Executive Power, published in the AILA Law Journal, a publication of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Mr. Mehta is Editor-in-Chief of the journal.

Mr. Mehta, Damira Zhanatova, and Kaitlyn Box co-authored a new blog post: Federal Court Strikes Down Trump’s $100,000 H‑1B Fee: INA § 212(f) Is Not a Taxing Power.

Mr. Mehta and Kaitlyn Box co-authored several new blog posts: New USCIS Memo Abruptly Changes Adjustment of Status Policy, Blanche v. Lau: Will the Supreme Court Degrade the Rights of Lawful Permanent Residents?, and H-1B Enforcement While Working Abroad: Why Are CBP Officers in Abu Dhabi Scrutinizing LCAs?

Mr. Mehta and Damira Zhanatova co-authored several new blog posts: Dorcas v. USCIS: Federal Court Reaffirms That USCIS Must Adjudicate, Not Stonewall, Immigration Benefits; USCIS New Policy Limiting Adjustment of Status Eligibility Is Bad Policy and Contrary to Law; The Diplomatic Exception to Birthright Citizenship: Paths to Permanent Residence and Naturalization; Navigating the Downgrade of the Indian LL.B in Green Card Sponsorships for Lawyers; and L-1 Eligibility Without Traditional Employment: Pozzoli, Tessel, and Historic INS Guidance.

Mr. Mehta and Manjeeta Chowdhary co-authored a new blog post: USCIS Withdraws Appeal in Mukherji: What Changes–And What Does Not?

Mr. Mehta’s “Insightful Immigration Blog” published a new post, Deportation Judges.

Stephen Yale-Loehr, of Miller Mayer, LLP, will co-present a free Zoom webinar, “The Changing Landscape of Immigration Law: Expanding Limits and Shrinking Protections,” to be held June 5, 2026, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. ET. The webinar is sponsored by Cornell Law School. Lawyers who view the webinar can receive 1 NYS CLE credit. If you are not available that day, you can register to get the recording.

Mr. Yale-Loehr was quoted by the San Francisco Chronicle in Trump Plan to Target Sanctuary Cities’ Airports Ahead of World Cup Probably Illegal, Experts Say. He said that “basic issues of fairness and due process” should prevent the federal government from punishing travelers to sanctuary cities.

Mr. Yale-Loehr was quoted by the Times of India in India GCCs to Gain as U.S. Plans Sharp H-1B Wage Hikes. Mr. Yale-Loehr noted that a Department of Labor proposed rule would increase wages for foreign-born workers. “However, it will also put wage pressure on U.S. employers. U.S. companies will either hire fewer U.S. workers or offshore more of their work to India and other foreign countries. Ultimately this rule will hurt, not help, U.S. workers.”

Mr. Yale-Loehr co-authored an op-ed, A Proposal to Change Foreign Workers’ Wages Could Threaten American Jobs, published in The Hill.

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