The New Era of H-1B Visa Registration: A Beneficiary-Centric Approach

Posted on by Jay Wu
The H-1B visa program, crucial for employers seeking to hire foreign talent in specialty occupations, has long been criticized for its inefficiencies and susceptibility to manipulation. With the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) receiving over three-quarters of a million registrations for a mere 85,000 available visas in the last cycle, the need for reform was undeniable. In...

New Filing Fees Effective April 1, 2024

Posted on by Jay Wu
This marks the first fee adjustment (see Table below) since 2016, aimed at recovering operating costs as USCIS is predominantly fee-funded. The New Fee Schedule reflects a comprehensive review, with most fees not increased beyond 26%. New Forms and Deadlines will see revised forms and new fees effective April 1, 2024, with a grace period for certain forms until June 3, 2024. Some forms, however,...

Summary of USCIS Announcements for FY 2025 H-1B Cap Season

Posted on by Jay Wu
H-1B Registration Final Rule: A new beneficiary-centric selection process for H-1B registrations. Flexibility in start dates for H-1B cap-subject petitions. Integrity measures for denying or revoking petitions with invalid registrations or payment issues. Fee Schedule Final Rule: The registration fee for March 2024 remains $10. New edition of Form I-129 to be available from April 1, 2024....

New Pilot Program for Domestic Renewal of H-1B Visas

Posted on by Jay Wu
The U.S. Department of State has launched a pilot program for the domestic renewal of H-1B nonimmigrant visas for certain applicants. This program is aimed at qualified H-1B visa holders and will run from January 29, 2024, to April 1, 2024, or until all application slots are filled. DOS guidance and Faq can be found here. There is also an online tool that helps applicants figure out whether they...

A Look at STEM-Related Petition Trends in EB-2 and O-1A Categories (FY 2018 – FY 2023)

Posted on by Jay Wu
The landscape of U.S. immigration for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) professionals has seen significant changes in recent years. In January 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) revised its policy guidance, impacting two key visa categories: the EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) and the O-1A nonimmigrant status for individuals of extraordinary...