Immigration news update for AMER and EMEA regions
Americas
United States: FY 2026 H-1B cap reached
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)has received enough H-1B petitions to meet the FY 2026 regular and advanced degree caps. Petitions not selected in the lottery will not proceed under this year’s cap.
USCIS will continue to accept cap-exempt H-1B filings, such as those for:
- Qualifying “cap exempt” employers such as institutions of higher education, nonprofit research organizations, Â government research organizations
- Certain amended petitions, extensions and changes in employer for individuals already counted within the cap
This summary was prepared using the information from the USCIS
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Roberta Carnaccini (Global Director of Immigration).
Europe, Middle East and Africa
France: Nationality rules to take effect in 2026
Starting January 1, 2026, France will implement new, stricter requirements for individuals applying for French citizenship through naturalization or marriage. According to a decree issued on July 15, 2025, applicants will now need to demonstrate a higher level of French language proficiency—specifically, level B2 in both written and spoken French, up from the previous B1 requirement.
Additionally, those applying for naturalization or reintegration will be required to pass a new civic exam. This test will assess knowledge of French history, republican values, citizenship, and France’s role in the world. These changes will only affect applications submitted from the beginning of 2026 onward.
This summary was prepared using the information from the Legifrance
Spain: New EU-UK deal
Spain has been granted authority over the issuance of residence permits, visas and asylum in Gibraltar as part of a new agreement between the EU and the UK. This arrangement is part of broader efforts to finalize post-Brexit border controls for the British overseas territory. The deal, reached in June 2025, aims to remove border checks between Gibraltar and southern Spain while maintaining the integrity of the Schengen Area.
Although Spain will handle residency checks, Gibraltar will retain the final say on residence and asylum decisions and will also be able to issue a limited number of humanitarian visas. The agreement is still being finalized and will be adopted and ratified once negotiations are complete.
This summary was prepared using the information from the Schengen Visa Info
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Roberta Carnaccini (Global Director of Immigration).
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