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• FY 2027 H‑1B lottery selections have been announced: What happens next? By Ahran McCloskey    On March 31, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it had completed its initial round of selections for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027. This marks the first cap season in which USCIS applied its new weighted selection process which favors the allocation of H-1B visas to higher-paid individuals. Whether a registration was selected or not, there are important steps for employers and prospective H-1B beneficiaries to consider in the weeks ahead.For those selected in the H‑1B... More
• USCIS pause on adjudications for nationals from high-risk countries By Hannah Harris    On Dec. 2, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a policy memorandum directing its officers to place an adjudicative hold on pending benefit requests for foreign nationals from 19 high-risk countries identified in the June 4, 2025 Presidential Proclamation, Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States. The purpose of the hold is to allow USCIS time to conduct a comprehensive review of the pending requests.The memorandum also... More
• New weighted selection process for Cap‑Subject H-1B Petitions By Ahran McCloskey    On Dec. 29, 2025, the Federal Register published a final rule titled “Weighted Selection Process for Registrants and Petitioners Seeking to File Cap‑Subject H-1B Petitions,” announcing a major transformation of how U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allocates H‑1B visas under the annual cap when random selection is required. Random selection is only implemented when USCIS receives more registrations (or petitions) than it projects to meet the numerical allocations. This final rule becomes effective on Feb. 27, 2026... More
• Prudential visa revocations and what you should know By Laura Jurcevich    If you hold a U.S. visa, you might assume that once it is issued, you are in the clear. However, the Department of State can revoke a visa after issuance under a process called prudential visa revocation. This often surprises travelers, so here is what you need to know.What is prudential visa revocation?A prudential visa revocation is a cancellation of a U.S. visa by the Department of State when new information surfaces suggesting the visa holder might be... More
• U.S. expands travel restrictions: What you need to know By Laura Jurcevich    On Dec. 16, 2025, President Trump signed a Proclamation expanding the June 4, 2025 travel restrictions to the United States. The Proclamation continues to fully ban the entry of nationals from the original 12 countries under the June 4, 2025 Proclamation and add seven additional countries to that list as well as individuals holding Palestinian-Authority-issued travel documents. Partial restrictions and entry limitations on 15 additional countries were also added in the December 2025 Proclamation. Nationals of Laos and Sierra Leone... More
• What employers need to know about USCIS guidance implementing the $100,000 H-1B petition fee By Laura Jurcevich    On Oct. 20, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided additional information regarding implementation of the Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers Proclamation. The Guidance addresses which H-1B petitions are subject to the Proclamation, how and when to pay the fee and information on requesting an exception to the fee.Subject to the $100,000 payment: New H-1B petitions filed on or after Sept. 21, 2025, on behalf of beneficiaries who are outside the United States and do not... More
• New compliance obligations under H-1B proclamation effective Sept. 21 By Ahran McCloskey    On Sept. 19, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued a Proclamation significantly restricting the entry of certain H-1B nonimmigrant workers. As details about the impact of the Proclamation will continue to emerge over the coming days, our current understanding is that it does not affect beneficiaries of approved petitions or those who are in possession of valid H-1B nonimmigrant visas. We understand that the ability of current H-1B visa holders to leave the United States and re-enter is... More
• President Trump imposes travel restrictions on nationals of 19 countries By Hannah Harris and Laura Jurcevich    On June 4, 2025, President Trump signed a proclamation restricting travel to the United States of nationals from 19 countries. The proclamation is a result of a Jan. 20, 2025 Executive Order issued to reaffirm the Trump administration’s commitment to stricter national security policies. The restrictions, effective 12:01 am EDT on Monday, June 9, 2025, are based on concerns over terrorism, inadequate vetting, failure to accept removable nationals and high visa overstay rates.Full entry ban... More
• Department of Homeland Security’s non-U.S. citizen registration requirement By Laura Jurcevich    What is the new non-U.S. citizen registration requirement?The law requires non-U.S. citizens residing in the United States to register with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), providing personal information such as fingerprints and home addresses. The new rule aims to enhance national security and ensure compliance with U.S. immigration laws.Effective April 11, 2025, and subject to limited exceptions, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires all noncitizens aged 14 and older who were not fingerprinted or registered when... More
• Planning for the H-1B cap online registration period opening March 7, 2025 By Hannah Harris    The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the fiscal year 2026 initial registration period for the H-1B cap will run from noon EST on March 7, 2025, to noon EST on March 24, 2025.The H-1B program is for employers sponsoring foreign nationals in specialty occupations. A specialty occupation is a position that requires the application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor’s degree in a directly related specific specialty, or its equivalent,... More