By 2027, five major immigration and travel visa programs will operate under substantially different rules affecting application processes, costs, and eligibility, according to Currently, by AT&T data.
H-1B Visa Moves to Wage-Based Weighted Lottery and New Entry Fees
The U.S. H-1B work visa system will replace the existing random lottery with a wage-based weighted lottery starting with fiscal year 2027 registrations, which open February 27, 2026. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published the final rule for this on December 29, 2025. Applicants whose wage offers fall into the highest bracket will receive four entries in the lottery, while those in lower brackets will have between one and four entries proportional
to their offered wage level, as stated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Separately, a $100,000 fee imposed by the Trump administration will apply to new H-1B visa holders entering the U.S. starting September 2025, a cost impacting many employers. These policy shifts favor higher salaries and aim to reduce reliance on offshore staffing models that have dominated the program.
ETIAS Introduction Ends Visa-Free Entry to Europe Starting Early 2027
The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will begin operations in the last quarter of 2026 and will become mandatory approximately in April 2027 after a six-month transition. The European Union Home Affairs Ministers confirmed this updated
timeline on March 5. Visa-exempt travelers from the U.S., UK, Canada, and other countries will need to obtain online authorization and pay a €20 fee, replacing the earlier rumored fee of €7, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs confirmed.
This system introduces a three-year travel authorization per passport, effectively ending the previously straightforward, visa-free entry to the Schengen area.
EB-5 Investor Visa Reforms Tighten Oversight and Raise Investment Thresholds
The EB-5 investor visa program will face significant reforms following a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published by DHS and USCIS on July 2, 2026, to implement the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022. Modifications include stricter monitoring
of regional centers, enhanced requirements on job creation documentation, and widened authority for shutting down projects linked to fraud or national security risks.
A grandfathering deadline is set for September 30, 2026, to allow investors to apply under the existing rules. Starting January 1, 2027, the investment threshold will increase for the first time based on inflation, with new minimums projected between $900,000 and $937,500. The current baseline, established in 2022, is $1.05 million, making this the first such adjustment since then.
Southern European Golden Visa Programs Shrink or Tighten Requirements
The Spanish Golden Visa program was abolished effective April 3, 2025, due to housing market pressures after requiring
at least €500,000 in Spanish property investments. Portugal ended its real estate pathway for the Golden Visa in October 2023 as part of the More Housing reform, while in mid-2026 it extended the general path to citizenship from five to ten years.
Greece remains a primary European option for property-based residency, though it raised minimum investment levels to €800,000 in major population centers including Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands with more than 3,100 inhabitants.
U.S. International Student Visa Policies Face Fixed Terms and OPT Restrictions
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security proposed in August 2025 to replace the current ‘duration of status’ policy, which allows international students to stay enrolled
without frequent renewals, with fixed admission periods. This would require official approval for length extensions beyond those periods, complicating long-duration academic programs.
Additionally, anticipated rule changes will restrict or end Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT programs that currently permit international graduates to work for 12 and 24 months respectively, reshaping their post-study work opportunities and chances to enter the H-1B lottery.
Broader Immigration Trends Reflect Increased Screening, Higher Costs, and Lengthy Processes
The visa changes implemented across the U.S. and Europe through 2026 and 2027 respond to objectives such as protecting domestic wages, managing housing markets, and closing security gaps. Measures include higher fees, increased investment thresholds, tighter oversight,
and the replacement of simpler visa entry processes with more complex authorization systems.
Applicants to visa programs must adjust to more stringent eligibility criteria, additional fees, and extended timelines as governments transform immigration policies towards greater scrutiny and regulation.
