The following information updates the initial alert distributed on January 13, 2026. USCIS has provided additional information regarding the timing of the H-1B cap lottery for the FY 2027 registration season....more
Without any grace period for implementation, investigation results, or opportunity for prior comment by H-1B employers in the State of Texas, Governor Abbott issued a letter on January 27, 2026, addressed to all state agency...more
The H-1B visa classification was established as a nonimmigrant, temporary worker program to aid U.S. employers unable to fill highly specialized positions (those requiring a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent). The...more
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a final rule that will shift the H-1B cap registration selection process from a random lottery to a weighted selection process based on a beneficiary’s proposed salary and...more
On December 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a final rule amending the H-1B cap process. Congress mandates an annual cap for new H-1B visas each fiscal year, including 20,000 H-1B visas for...more
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has announced a final rule which will amend the selection process for H-1B registrations. The rule — which will to take effect with the FY2027 H-1B registration...more
As the “Big Beautiful Bill” takes effect and additional proposals are discussed in Congress, businesses that rely on foreign talent should pay close attention to immigration reforms....more
On September 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced Project Firewall. This initiative reflects a strengthening of investigative efforts to ensure employer compliance with their obligations under the H-1B visa...more
Much of the federal government is at a standstill after lawmakers were unable to reach a spending deal by midnight on Tuesday, September 30. The government shutdown has significant consequences for employers who do work for...more
The U.S. government entered a partial shutdown at 12:01 a.m. (EDT) on October 1, 2025, after the president and congressional lawmakers could not reach an agreement to fund the federal government for fiscal year 2026. ...more
The current government funding expired at the end of the fiscal year without a continuing resolution, resulting in a government shutdown. A federal government shutdown can create ripple effects across immigration processes,...more
In anticipation of a possible government shutdown this week, many employers are wondering how a shuttering of U.S. government agencies for budgetary reasons could impact or delay their U.S. immigration processing, exclusively...more
The White House has announced significant changes to the H-1B program, including a new $100,000 petition fee, revised prevailing wage rules, a tiered lottery system, and expanded enforcement measures. These developments...more
On September 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (“NPRM”) to amend its H-1B regulations. The proposal also includes provisions that would change the H-1B cap...more
On September 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the launch of Project Firewall, a comprehensive enforcement initiative designed to protect the rights, wages, and job opportunities of highly skilled...more
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has launched Project Firewall, a sweeping enforcement initiative designed to ensure strict employer compliance with the H-1B visa program. Coupled with the recent presidential proclamation...more
As part of ongoing efforts to ensure the integrity of the immigration benefit process, the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS) operates an Administrative Site Visit and Verification Program (ASVVP). ...more
Another potential government shutdown may be on the horizon, as we await updates on the progress of the latest funding bill. Although already passed in the House of Representatives, an extension to continue funding the...more
Last week, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the Fiscal Year 2026 H-1B lottery will open at noon EST on March 7, 2025, and run through noon EST on March 24,...more
President Trump’s new administration takes charge this week with a renewed focus on enforcing federal immigration law. In fact, as explained in today’s companion article, one of President Trump’s first action items on...more
With an incoming administration vocal about its stance on immigration enforcement and safeguarding U.S. workers, employers who hire foreign workers on H-1B visas should make certain that they are maintaining compliance with...more
On December 18, 2024, the Biden administration’s Department of Homeland Security published its final rule to overhaul several aspects of the H-1B visa program. This final rule, which takes effect 30 days after publication, is...more
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently updated its Occupational Information Network (O*NET), resulting in readjustments to the “Job Zones”—five articulated categories correlated with the levels of education, training,...more
Employers that employ foreign nationals have various notification requirements. Immigration cases that require LCA (Labor Condition Application) filings with the Department of Labor (DOL) before submitting petitions to USCIS...more
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled, “Modernizing H-1B Requirements, Providing Flexibility in the F-1 Program, and Program Improvements Affecting...more