Data Protection Day 2026
Today is European Data Protection Day (DPD) – marking the 19th anniversary of celebration. We are all aware that DPD should not be the only day of the year that organisations think about data accountability and (transparency). One day is not enough – data is a day to day task. However, using DPD as a…
6 Data Protection Trends (Not Just Agentic AI) to Look Out for This Year and Beyond
The start of the year continued to be dominated by discussions around the use of Agentic AI and whilst it is easy to focus on the shiny new thing that everyone is talking about, it is important to not lose sight of other data trends. Data protection regulations are growing at an unprecedented rate, with…
Suspension of Immigration Visa Issuance for 75 Countries Based on Public Charge Reassessment
Effective January 21, the U.S. Department of State will indefinitely suspend the issuance of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries while it re-evaluates its procedures for adjudicating visa eligibility under the public charge ground of inadmissibility. The public charge analysis requires an assessment of whether an applicant is likely to rely on U.S. government…
Kuwait – Important Update on Exit Procedures
The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) has introduced a new Multiple‑Trip Exit Permit service, allowing a single permit to cover multiple exits and re‑entry trips within a specified period. This replaces the previous system, where a separate exit permit was required for each trip, and is part of Kuwait’s broader digital transformation of government services….
Changes in Upcoming H-1B Visa Lottery
The FY 2027 H-1B cap season will introduce significant changes, including a new wage-based weighted selection system that favours higher-paid beneficiaries and the potential application of a new $100,000 H-1B fee for certain petitions. Employers should begin planning now, including identifying H-1B needs, evaluating offered wages, and assessing fee exposure, ahead of the expected March…
Expansion of Adjudication Hold Policy for Travel Ban Countries
Effective January 1, USCIS expanded its adjudication hold and re-review policies to align with the expanded travel ban list. USCIS will now place adjudicative holds on all pending immigration benefit requests and re-review certain approved benefits for individuals born in, or citizens of, any of the 39 travel ban countries. The full newly expanded list…
