US Visa Policy Digest

• DOJ settlement: Compunnel pays $313,420 ($58k back pay to US citizen, $255k penalty) for unlawful citizenship restrictions in H-1B ads.
• Corrective...

Hiring Compliance Risks

• 🔥 New 'H-1B Only' Job Posting: Following Compunnel's $313,420 settlement for discriminatory hiring, a LinkedIn post...

Essential L-1 visa steps for UK nationals and companies:

• Qualify employee: 1+ year abroad in executive/managerial (L-1A) or specialized role (L-1B),...

Key pitfalls in O-1 petitions and actionable fixes:

• 'Rule of Three' myth: 3 criteria alone fails final merits test—aim for 4-5 strong ones.
  -...

Big Tech H-1B pattern alert: Oracle cut 20,000-30,000 jobs worldwide on March 31, 2026, tied to $2.1B restructuring for AI/cloud growth.

• Filed...

Small employers hit hardest by $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, hindering hires in tech, healthcare, education.

• Nonprofits struggle: Wayside Youth...

• Retail caution: Walmart's certified apps fell >50% YoY to 312 in Q1 FY2026; others like Target stable but down end-2025.
• Tech pullback: Amazon...

Heightened DOJ scrutiny on discriminatory hiring persists:

• Compunnel settlement: $313,420 fine ($58k back pay to US citizen, $255k penalties) for...

State University H-1B Hiring Restrictions

• 🔥 Florida Pauses Faculty Hires: Florida's Board of Governors approved a 10-month pause on hiring...

• Bill status: House File 2513 passed Iowa House 68-27, cleared Senate committees, awaits full Senate vote.
• Targets: Bans new H-1B contracts at...

Critical compliance alert for H-1B employers:

• Compunnel Software Group settled with DOJ after posting 'H-1B workers ONLY' jobs and emails seeking...

Dramatic cost jump from $1,700-$4,500 to $100,000 per application shocks employers and workers.

• Employers hesitate: Major financial hit limits...

Emerging trend: Red states are restricting H-1B use in public universities and agencies, bypassing federal limits.

• Florida: Board of Governors'...

Corporate H-1B demand cools in Q1 FY2026 DOL data, signaling hiring slowdowns in tech and finance.

• Walmart: 312 certified apps, down >50% from 860...

Divergent Q1 FY2026 trends after Trump's visa changes:

• Goldman Sachs: 60% drop (256 to 101 filings)
• JPMorgan: 29% plunge (724 to 516), now #2...

Legislative Progress: Iowa House File 2513 passed the House 68-27 and cleared Senate subcommittee and Workforce Committee in March 2026; now on Senate...

FY 2027 H-1B Cap Lottery Completion

• 🔥 USCIS Concludes Lottery: USCIS has completed the FY 2027 H-1B cap lottery using a new wage-based...

Essential guidance for H-1B holders reentering with a new employer:

• USCIS approval mandatory: New employer files Form I-129; wait for approval...

Key FY2027 H-1B updates for employers:

• Lottery wrapped: USCIS completed cap selection using new wage-based process over random draw.
• Filing...

Key options to speed USCIS cases amid delays:

• Premium Processing: $2,965 for H-1B/L-1/O-1 I-129 (15 business days action: approve/deny/RFE); I-140...