U.S. immigration policy has continued to change throughout 2026. For organizations that work with immigrants, the changes are not limited to immigration forms or filing fees.
They also affect how information is communicated.
Law firms, government agencies, healthcare providers, employers, schools and community organizations may all work with people who have limited English proficiency or who are more comfortable communicating in another language.
That makes language access part of the practical side of immigration services.
Several developments in 2026 are particularly relevant:
- Immigration-related fees have changed and some fees are subject to annual adjustments.
- Immigration court payments have moved further toward electronic processing.
- The Annual Asylum Fee remains an important requirement for certain pending asylum applications.
- USCIS and the Department of Justice continue to provide multilingual resources.
- Immigration courts continue to provide interpreters when needed for people who cannot adequately understand or participate in proceedings in English.
- USCIS has specific guidance concerning interpreters during agency interviews.
- Some previous immigration court language-access guidance was rescinded, making it important for organizations to rely on current agency guidance rather than older materials.
The details matter because immigration procedures can change quickly. Organizations should check current USCIS, EOIR and other federal guidance before advising clients, employees, patients or community members.
Immigration Fees Changed Again in 2026
One of the most practical issues for immigration organizations is the growing complexity of fees.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced or increased several immigration-related fees, with some fees subject to annual inflation adjustments. EOIR announced that its fiscal year 2026 fee adjustments took effect February 1, 2026.
For organizations supporting immigrants, this creates an additional communication challenge.
A person may understand that they need to file an application but still misunderstand:
- Which fee applies
- When the fee must be paid
- Whether a fee can be waived
- Whether an additional fee applies
- How the payment must be submitted
- What happens if payment is missing or incorrect
USCIS also warns that applications, petitions and requests can be rejected when the required fee is incorrect.
This is where clear multilingual communication becomes particularly important.
A translated explanation of a fee is not a substitute for legal advice, but it can help a person understand the administrative information they have been given.
The Annual Asylum Fee Remains an Important Issue
The Annual Asylum Fee is one of the changes organizations working with asylum applicants need to understand.
USCIS states that certain asylum applicants with pending Form I-589 applications are required to pay an annual fee.
The USCIS system currently explains that applicants who have had an asylum application pending for the required period may be subject to the fee each year.
The situation has also involved litigation.
On August 5, 2026, a federal court enjoined USCIS from implementing certain consequences associated with failure to pay the Annual Asylum Fee. USCIS subsequently reopened its payment portal for certain applicants who had missed a payment deadline while the litigation continues.
This illustrates a broader issue for organizations working in immigration, since this policy can change after an organization has already translated a brochure, published a webpage or created instructions for clients.
Static language materials therefore need regular review.
Immigration Court Language Access in 2026
Language access remains especially important in immigration court.
The Executive Office for Immigration Review, or EOIR, states that interpreters are provided at government expense for individuals whose command of English is not sufficient to fully understand and participate in removal proceedings. Immigration courts use staff interpreters, contract interpreters and telephonic interpretation services.
This is different from simply providing a translated document.
An interpreter facilitates communication during a live proceeding and a translator works with written content.
That distinction matters in immigration cases because a person may need both.
For example, an asylum applicant could need:
- An interpreter during a hearing
- Translation of identity documents
- Translation of civil records
- Translation of supporting evidence
- Interpretation during attorney consultations
- Translated instructions explaining the next steps
Organizations should treat these as separate language-service requirements rather than assuming one service covers everything.
Language and Dialects
Language access is not always as simple as selecting a language from a list. People may speak Indigenous languages, regional languages, or different variants of a language that are not fully interchangeable.
For example, a person from a country where Spanish is widely spoken may actually communicate most effectively in an Indigenous language.
The Department of Justice’s previous language-access guidance specifically highlighted the need to identify a person’s preferred language and recognize situations involving Indigenous languages and language variants. That guidance was rescinded in 2025, but the underlying practical issue remains relevant when organizations arrange interpretation.
Organizations should therefore avoid assuming that nationality automatically identifies someone’s preferred language.
USCIS Interviews and Interpreters
USCIS also has specific guidance concerning interpretation during agency interviews.
Its Language Access Plan states that applicants who are eligible to have an interpreter at a USCIS-conducted interview should arrange for an interpreter who is fluent, unbiased and competent. USCIS may provide an interpreter if one is readily available or may permit an applicant to reschedule in order to return with an interpreter of their choice.
USCIS also says that minors generally should not serve as interpreters during USCIS-conducted interviews, except in rare circumstances.
That is an important point for organizations assisting families. Using a child or another family member as an informal interpreter can create problems when the conversation involves sensitive legal, medical or personal information.
Professional interpretation provides a more appropriate structure for high-stakes communication.
Multilingual Immigration Resources are Expanding
Language access is not limited to spoken interpretation, as Federal agencies continue to publish resources in multiple languages.
EOIR’s Immigration Court Online Resource, known as ICOR, is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, Haitian Creole and Punjabi. EOIR also provides multilingual versions of certain forms and instructions.
For organizations, this creates an opportunity to direct people toward official multilingual resources instead of recreating government information unnecessarily. The safest approach is to distinguish between:
- Official information: Content published by a government agency.
- Translated organizational information: Content created by a law firm, employer, healthcare provider, nonprofit or other organization to explain a process.
- Professional language services: Interpretation or translation provided to facilitate communication between people.
These serve different purposes.
What the 2026 Changes Mean for Immigration Law Firms
Immigration attorneys and their staff often sit between government requirements and clients who may not be comfortable communicating in English.
In 2026, law firms should pay particular attention to the accuracy and currency of multilingual information.
A practical review should include:
Client intake
- Record the client’s preferred spoken and written language.
- Do not rely solely on nationality or country of birth.
- Where relevant, identify dialect, regional variation or Indigenous language requirements.
Hearings
- Confirm interpreter arrangements well before the hearing.
EOIR’s current guidance states that respondents or their representatives should request an interpreter no later than 30 days before the next hearing when interpretation will be needed.
Documents
Immigration court filings generally must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation. EOIR explains that translation certifications must identify the translator’s competence and confirm that the translation is complete and accurate to the best of the translator’s abilities.
Client communications
- Explain deadlines, fees and procedural requirements in language the client understands.
A translated client instruction sheet can reduce confusion, but it should not replace advice from a qualified immigration attorney.
What Employers and HR Teams Need to Know
Immigration changes also affect organizations employing foreign workers, international employees and multilingual workforces.
HR teams may need to communicate information about:
- Immigration documentation
- Employment authorization
- Visa-related processes
- Internal deadlines
- Relocation
- Employee benefits
- Workplace policies
- Government correspondence
The challenge is particularly significant when an employee understands conversational English but has difficulty understanding complex legal or administrative language.
Being able to have a conversation in English does not automatically mean that a person can understand a complicated immigration document.
HR teams should identify which communications require professional translation or interpretation and which can be handled through standard multilingual resources.
Confidentiality also matters. Immigration documents can contain sensitive personal information, so organizations should use appropriate professional providers and data-handling procedures.
What Healthcare Organizations Need to Know
Immigration status and healthcare frequently intersect. Patients may need to understand insurance documents, medical instructions, consent forms, appointments and other information while also dealing with immigration-related concerns.
Healthcare organizations have separate language-access responsibilities under federal civil rights requirements.
HHS states that covered programs must take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to people with limited English proficiency. Language assistance can include oral interpretation and written translation.
The 2024 Section 1557 final rule also addressed language access, although portions of the rule have subsequently been affected by court decisions. HHS issued an update in June 2026 explaining the effect of a federal court ruling and noting that core protections remained in effect.
Healthcare organizations should therefore avoid relying on outdated compliance materials. They should review current federal guidance and maintain a clear process for accessing qualified language services.
What Government Agencies and Public-Service Organizations Need to Know
Government agencies often serve communities with dozens of languages.
Language access needs can affect:
- Public notices
- Application forms
- Websites
- Telephone services
- Public meetings
- Emergency information
- Benefits programs
- Immigration-related services
- Case management
- Community outreach
A language access plan can help an organization determine which languages it encounters most often and how language assistance will be provided.
The goal is not to translate every piece of content into every language. It is to identify where language barriers could prevent people from understanding or accessing an important service and establish a reliable process for addressing those barriers.
What Schools and Community Organizations Should Know
Schools, nonprofits and community organizations often become informal information hubs for immigrant families.
Someone may arrive with a government letter and ask a teacher, social worker, community worker or volunteer to explain it. Organizations should avoid interpreting complicated legal documents beyond their expertise.
They can instead:
- Identify the person’s preferred language.
- Direct them to official government resources.
- Arrange qualified interpretation when communication is necessary.
- Refer legal questions to qualified immigration professionals.
- Keep translated information current.
- Avoid relying on children as interpreters for sensitive matters.
Translation and Interpretation Are Not the Same
People tend to think they re the same, but they are not:
- Interpretation is spoken or signed communication between people.
- Translation involves written content.
An organization may need both.
For example, an immigration law firm might use an interpreter for a client consultation and a translator for a foreign-language birth certificate.
A hospital might need an interpreter for a clinical appointment and translation for patient information.
An employer might need interpretation during an immigration-related meeting and translated HR materials for employees.
Using the correct service helps reduce misunderstandings.
Why Professional Interpreters Matter
Immigration, healthcare and legal communication often involve information that cannot be safely simplified.
A professional interpreter is expected to communicate what was said accurately rather than changing the meaning to make the conversation easier. This becomes particularly important when conversations involve:
- Legal rights
- Medical decisions
- Immigration history
- Financial information
- Employment status
- Personal or family circumstances
- Government procedures
Professional interpretation also reduces the burden placed on relatives, friends, children and untrained employees.
A 2026 Language Access Checklist for Organizations
Organizations working with immigrant or multilingual populations can use this checklist when reviewing their current processes.
1. Identify language needs
Keep a record of the languages and language variants your organization regularly encounters.
2. Ask for preferred language
Do not assume that a person’s nationality tells you which language they prefer.
3. Separate interpretation from translation
Determine whether the situation requires spoken interpretation, written translation or both.
4. Review government information
Use current USCIS, EOIR, HHS and other official sources when checking immigration or language-access requirements.
5. Check deadlines and fees
Immigration fees and procedures can change. Review information before communicating deadlines or payment requirements.
6. Avoid informal interpretation for high-stakes matters
Family members and children should not automatically be used as interpreters for sensitive legal, medical or government communications.
7. Review multilingual materials
Check translated webpages, forms, brochures and client instructions regularly.
8. Protect confidential information
Immigration and healthcare documents can contain highly sensitive personal data. Language-service providers should be selected with confidentiality and data protection in mind.
9. Train staff
Employees who interact with multilingual populations should understand how to request language assistance and when professional interpretation is required.
10. Keep a current language access plan
A written plan gives staff a consistent process instead of forcing them to make decisions during an urgent situation.
The Bigger Language-Access Issue in 2026
The immigration system is not only changing through new policies. It is also becoming more dependent on digital systems, electronic payments, online accounts and multilingual information.
USCIS online accounts allow applicants, attorneys and accredited representatives to perform a growing range of tasks electronically, including submitting certain requests, responding to notices and paying fees.
EOIR has also expanded electronic payment requirements. As of February 23, 2026, EOIR stopped accepting checks and money orders for immigration fees and requires electronic payment through its Payment Portal for applicable fees.
Digital access does not automatically mean language access. An online form can be available 24 hours a day and still be difficult to understand for someone who is not comfortable reading English.
That is why organizations need to consider language access alongside digital access.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the biggest U.S. immigration changes in 2026?
Several immigration-related changes took effect or continued to develop in 2026, including new and adjusted fees, changes to asylum-related requirements, electronic payment requirements at EOIR and procedural changes affecting immigration cases. Because immigration rules can change during the year, organizations should verify current requirements with USCIS, EOIR and other relevant agencies.
Do immigration courts provide interpreters?
Yes. EOIR states that interpreters are provided at government expense for individuals whose English is not adequate for them to fully understand and participate in removal proceedings.
Does USCIS provide an interpreter for an immigration interview?
USCIS guidance explains that applicants who are eligible to have an interpreter present should arrange for a fluent, unbiased and competent interpreter. USCIS may provide an interpreter if one is readily available or may allow the applicant to reschedule to return with an interpreter.
Can a family member interpret during an immigration appointment?
A family member may not be an appropriate choice for a high-stakes immigration conversation. USCIS specifically emphasizes the use of interpreters who are fluent, unbiased and competent, and generally does not permit minors to serve as interpreters during USCIS-conducted interviews except in rare circumstances.
What is the difference between an interpreter and a translator?
An interpreter facilitates spoken or signed communication between people. A translator converts written content from one language into another. Immigration cases can require both services.
Do healthcare organizations have language-access obligations?
Many healthcare programs covered by federal civil rights requirements have obligations to provide meaningful access to people with limited English proficiency. HHS identifies oral language assistance and written translation among the forms of assistance that may be appropriate.
Should organizations translate all immigration information?
Not necessarily. Organizations should identify the information that people need to access safely and effectively, determine which languages are most frequently needed, and maintain a process for providing interpretation or translation when necessary.
Where can organizations find current immigration information?
Organizations should start with official sources such as USCIS and the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. Current government guidance should take priority over old blog posts, social media posts or previously created internal materials.
