H-1B Policy Watch

• Effective March 1 2026, fees jump to $2,965 for H‑1B, L‑1, O‑1, TN, and I‑140 petitions
• Fees rise to $2,075 for I‑539 and $1,780 for I‑765,...

• The video explains the Trump‑era pause on visas for 75 countries and its link to the Feb 2026 Visa Bulletin.
• It runs 1:11:14, drawing 4,505 views...

The video explains the 60‑day grace period after an H‑1B layoff and explores if re‑entry into the U.S. is permitted, while also warning about checkpoint issues and common travel mistakes.

• Lottery eliminated: Sponsors must rely on limited quotas or alternative visas, reshaping hiring pipelines.
• $100K surcharge upheld: Small firms...

The administration swapped the random H‑1B lottery for a wage‑weighted system, rewarding higher‑paid offers and forcing employers to justify salary...

The weighted lottery is just a symptom of a deeper H‑1B crisis: massive backlogs and looming jail threats for overstays are forcing employers to...

• Presidents’ Alliance warns wage‑weighted lottery squeezes entry‑level international grads out.
• Media analysis shows salary points slash Indian...

The State Department’s expanded online‑presence screening now covers every H‑1B and H‑4 applicant, forcing consulates to push appointments into 2026....

A coalition of states has filed a lawsuit claiming the $100,000 H‑1B surcharge exceeds statutory limits and violates the Administrative Procedure...

• File early: Submit petitions ASAP after the March opening to secure a higher weighted score.
• Accurate wage levels: Use prevailing wage data;...

• Jan 2 2026: DHS issues the wage‑weighted lottery rule, creating a four‑tier (I‑IV) entry system that favors higher prevailing wages.
• Court...

Key points on the new weighted H‑1B lottery (effective Feb 27 2026):

• Entries per wage level: Level D = 1, C = 2, B = 3, A = 4.
• Cap stays 85k:...

• $100K fee forces smaller sponsors to reassess H‑1B reliance.
• Single‑entry registration replaces multiple filings, streamlining the pool.
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• Eligibility threshold rises: applicants need a minimum $120k salary or advanced degree plus experience.
• Lottery replaced by a data‑driven merit...

A Trump‑style legal‑visa moratorium would freeze H‑1B, green‑card and student visas for Indian nationals, jeopardizing projects, delaying families, and forcing companies to rethink hiring pipelines.

• Federal court upholds $100K surcharge, confirming legal footing for sponsors.
• Late‑2025 update flags ongoing litigation, urging firms to budget...

In early 2025 a new claim challenged the $100 K H‑1B surcharge, highlighting a two‑tier merit gate that favors high‑pay roles over startups.\nThe US...

• Trump admin announced ending the random lottery, proposing a wage‑weighted merit system.
• Proposal sparked industry debate over equity for...

• Weighted‑selection rule now favors higher wages and prior H‑1B usage—raise offers.
• Lottery cap stays 65k regular, 20k advanced; weighted draw...

In late November, a federal judge granted summary judgment, upholding the $100,000 surcharge for high‑salary H‑1B petitions, cementing the merit‑gate...