Weekly Immigration News Roundup: February 5

This week, Manifest immigration attorney Ana Gabriela Urizar offers insights on some of the latest headlines.

The SBA released new policy that bars Green Card holder from their loans

Starting March 1, the federal agency will only lend to businesses owned solely by U.S. citizens or nationals. Legal permanent residents won’t even be allowed to own a percentage interest in a business seeking an SBA loan.

Urizar: “For legal permanent residents looking to start a small business, I recommend consulting with an attorney on whether it makes sense to submit a loan application with the SBA before the new policy goes into effect.”

The federal government went into a partial shutdown

On January 31, the government briefly shut down after Congress did not pass the remaining funding package before its midnight deadline. That shutdown ended on Tuesday, but it may occur again if the Department of Homeland Security’s budget isn’t finalized by February 13.

Urizar: “Most government shutdowns don’t immediately affect immigration for several reasons. USCIS operates primarily from filing fees, and U.S. embassies don’t rely on federal funding entirely. The bigger issue comes from when LCAs and PERM processing get delayed, which wasn’t the case for this particular partial shutdown.”

USCIS updated its processing times data

In February 2026, several forms saw changes in adjudication time, including Form I-129, Form I-130, and Form I-140. This month, wait times went up slightly.

Urizar: “Processing times are important, because they offer a glimpse into how long USCIS takes to complete 80% of cases. Yes, individual case times vary due to several factors, but this data can be particularly useful for someone who’s trying to map out how long their application might take.”

The H-1B lottery registration dates were announced

The registration window for the FY 2027 H-1B lottery will open on March 4, 2026. This season, USCIS will shift from a purely random lottery selection to a system that prioritizes applicants with higher wages.

Urizar: “Now’s the time to start preparing for the H-1B lottery, whether you’re an employer or employee. Gather all the information required to fill out a registration, and be ready to submit by March 4.”