Five prominent immigration and travel visa programs will operate under substantially revised rules by 2027, affecting applicants for work, investment, and travel visas across the United States and Europe. These changes include new selection methods, fees, increased investment thresholds, and modified eligibility timelines.
H-1B Visa Transitions to Wage-Based Lottery and Faces New Fees
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will replace the traditional random H-1B visa lottery with a wage-based weighted selection system starting February 27, 2026. Under the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) final rule published on December 29, 2025, higher-wage job registrations receive up to four lottery entries, while lower-wage offers receive fewer.
In September 2025, the
Trump administration imposed a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa holders, adding to the program’s costs. Combined, these measures aim to prioritize higher-paid foreign workers and reduce low-cost offshore employment practices.
ETIAS Will Require Pre-Travel Authorization and €20 Fee by 2027
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is set to launch in the last quarter of 2026, following endorsement of a revised timeline by European Union Home Affairs Ministers on March 5. After a six-month transition, ETIAS authorization will become mandatory around April 2027 for visa-exempt travelers entering the Schengen zone.
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs confirmed ETIAS will charge a €20 application fee.
Travelers from countries including the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada must obtain online clearance valid for three years before arrival in Europe.
EB-5 Investor Program Faces Higher Thresholds and Increased Oversight
The EB-5 investor visa program in the US will implement reforms under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022. DHS and USCIS published a proposed rule on July 2, 2026, to enhance scrutiny of regional centers, clarify job-creation evidence, and strengthen controls against fraud and security risks.
A grandfathering deadline on September 30, 2026, allows applicants to file under current investment thresholds. Effective January 1, 2027, minimum investment amounts are projected to rise to between $900,000
and $937,500, down from the $1.05 million baseline maintained since 2022.
Golden Visa Programs in Southern Europe Narrow and Become More Costly
Spain abolished its Golden Visa program on April 3, 2025, attributing the move to pressures on the national housing market. Portugal ended the real estate investment option of its Golden Visa program in October 2023 and extended citizenship eligibility from 5 to 10 years effective mid-2026 through legislation.
Greece remains the primary European country with a property-based Golden Visa route but increased its minimum investment for major cities such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, and Santorini to €800,000. By 2027, fewer southern European countries will offer Golden Visas, with higher
financial requirements and longer citizenship timelines.
U.S. International Student Visa Rules to Impose Fixed Status Periods and Limit Work
The DHS proposed in August 2025 to replace the existing “duration of status” policy allowing international students flexible enrollment with fixed admission periods. Under the forthcoming rule, which is expected to be finalized soon, students will require government approval to extend their stay beyond limited terms, complicating longer programs.
Work authorizations such as Optional Practical Training (OPT), which currently permits 12 months of post-graduation employment, and the STEM OPT extension of 24 months, may face restrictions or termination in new rules stemming from the Trump administration. These upcoming limitations would significantly narrow pathways for
international students transitioning from education to work visas.
Visa Policy Changes Target Wage Protection, Security, and Market Control
The visa program changes reflect a policy shift emphasizing higher wage standards, enhanced security, and domestic market management. The US H-1B reforms aim to discourage low-wage offshore staffing, while ETIAS introduces pre-travel security screening for visa-exempt visitors to Europe.
Reforms to the EB-5 program respond to concerns about fraud and national security risks, tightening oversight and increasing investment requirements. Southern European changes to Golden Visas address housing availability and citizenship timing, with Spain and Portugal reducing or ending property routes.
Finally, the U.S. international student visa adjustments seek improved government monitoring of
student stays and aim to restrict work authorizations that link directly to subsequent work visa access. Travelers and investors engaging with these visa categories face narrowing windows to apply under existing rules before the stricter 2027 standards take effect.
