diff --git a/.github/workflows/push.yml b/.github/workflows/push.yml
index 37f2a8fee7..e3a6d319eb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/push.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/push.yml
@@ -369,6 +369,10 @@ jobs:
       group: databricks-deco-testing-runner-group
       labels: ubuntu-latest-deco
 
+    permissions:
+      checks: write
+      contents: read
+
     environment: "test-trigger-is"
 
     steps:
@@ -394,29 +398,44 @@ jobs:
             -f commit_sha=${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
 
       # Skip integration tests if the primary "test" target is not triggered by this change.
+      # Use Checks API (not Statuses API) to match the required "Integration Tests" check.
       - name: Skip integration tests (pull request)
         if: ${{ github.event_name == 'pull_request' && !contains(fromJSON(needs.testmask.outputs.targets), 'test') }}
-        env:
-          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-        run: |-
-          gh api -X POST -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
-            -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
-            /repos/${{ github.repository }}/statuses/${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }} \
-            -f 'state=success' \
-            -f 'context=Integration Tests Check' \
-            -f 'description=⏭️ Skipped'
-
+        uses: actions/github-script@v7
+        with:
+          script: |
+            await github.rest.checks.create({
+              owner: context.repo.owner,
+              repo: context.repo.repo,
+              name: 'Integration Tests',
+              head_sha: '${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}',
+              status: 'completed',
+              conclusion: 'success',
+              output: {
+                title: 'Integration Tests',
+                summary: '⏭️ Skipped (changes do not require integration tests)'
+              }
+            });
+
+      # Auto-approve for merge group since tests already passed on the PR.
+      # Use Checks API (not Statuses API) to match the required "Integration Tests" check.
       - name: Auto-approve for merge group
         if: ${{ github.event_name == 'merge_group' }}
-        env:
-          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-        run: |-
-          gh api -X POST -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
-            -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
-            /repos/${{ github.repository }}/statuses/${{ github.sha }} \
-            -f 'state=success' \
-            -f 'context=Integration Tests Check' \
-            -f 'description=⏭️ Skipped'
+        uses: actions/github-script@v7
+        with:
+          script: |
+            await github.rest.checks.create({
+              owner: context.repo.owner,
+              repo: context.repo.repo,
+              name: 'Integration Tests',
+              head_sha: context.sha,
+              status: 'completed',
+              conclusion: 'success',
+              output: {
+                title: 'Integration Tests',
+                summary: '⏭️ Auto-approved for merge queue (tests already passed on PR)'
+              }
+            });
 
       - name: Trigger integration tests (push to main)
         if: ${{ github.event_name == 'push' }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/start-integration-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/start-integration-tests.yml
index 99919beab9..74bfc90e64 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/start-integration-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/start-integration-tests.yml
@@ -2,45 +2,12 @@ name: start-integration-tests
 
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
-  merge_group:
 
 jobs:
-  # Auto-approve integration tests for merge queue.
-  # The tests already passed on the PR, so we don't need to run them again.
-  auto-approve:
-    if: github.event_name == 'merge_group'
-
-    runs-on:
-      group: databricks-deco-testing-runner-group
-      labels: ubuntu-latest-deco
-
-    permissions:
-      checks: write
-      contents: read
-
-    steps:
-      - name: Auto-approve Check for Merge Queue
-        uses: actions/github-script@v7
-        with:
-          script: |
-            await github.rest.checks.create({
-              owner: context.repo.owner,
-              repo: context.repo.repo,
-              name: 'Integration Tests',
-              head_sha: context.sha,
-              status: 'completed',
-              conclusion: 'success',
-              output: {
-                title: 'Integration Tests',
-                summary: 'Auto-approved for merge queue (tests already passed on PR)'
-              }
-            });
-
   # Trigger integration tests for PRs.
   # This workflow triggers the integration test workflow in a different repository.
   # It requires secrets from the "test-trigger-is" environment, which are only available to authorized users.
   trigger:
-    if: github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch'
 
     runs-on:
       group: databricks-deco-testing-runner-group