The H-1B FY 2026 cap season is now in full swing! Yesterday, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) formally announced that the initial registration period for the FY 2026 cap season will open on March 7th at noon Eastern time and run through March 24th at noon eastern time.…
Articles Posted in STEM
USCIS Releases Updated Guidance for EB-2 National Interest Waiver Petitions
On January 15, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released updated police guidance for EB-2 National Interest Waiver petitions. The updated policy guidance is effective immediately and applies to requests pending or filed on or after its publication date of January 15. This guidance provides insights into how…
President Elect Donald Trump’s Change of Heart, Suddenly Embraces H-1B Work Visas
After years of criticizing the H-1B work visa program, benefitting highly skilled foreign talent, on Saturday the President-elect shocked the world when he pledged his support for the program. In an interview with the New York Post, Trump said, “I’ve always liked the visas, I have always been in favor…
New Final Rule Brings Major Changes to the H-1B Visa Program in 2025
New changes to the H-1B work visa program are coming on January 17, 2025. A new final rule published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the Federal Register lays out some of the critical changes that H-1B beneficiaries and U.S. employers can expect. These changes will become effective…
Visa Approvals Soar for Gifted STEM Workers in O-1 and EB-2 Categories
Newly released data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has shown that thanks to policy guidance released in January 2022, more foreign nationals working in the STEM fields are receiving O-1A visas than ever before. In just the first year of issuing its revised guidance for example, issuance…
Important Announcements for F or M International Students and Increases in Fees Starting May 30, 2023
In this blog post, we alert our readers to a new broadcast message issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) provided updated guidance explaining that Consular officers have the authority to issue F or M student visas for up to…
BREAKING: USCIS Completes H-1B FY 2024 Electronic Registration Selection Process
We have great news for H-1B visa registrants! Today, March 27, 2023, USCIS announced that it has received enough electronic registrations to reach the FY 2024 H-1B visa cap—just 10 days after the H-1B electronic registration period closed on March 17, 2023. USCIS randomly selected from among registrations that were properly…
BREAKING NEWS: USCIS Expands Premium Processing for Certain F-1 Students Seeking OPT or STEM OPT
The moment we have been waiting for has finally arrived. Yesterday, March 6, 2023, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the expansion of premium processing services for certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and F-1 students seeking science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) OPT extensions who have a pending Form…
Will Tech Layoffs Create Greater Odds at Winning the H-1B Visa Lottery?
The H-1B registration period is now in full swing. Employers will have the opportunity to complete the electronic registration process from now until noon Eastern Time on March 17, 2023. The question on everyone’s minds is whether the massive tech layoffs in Silicon Valley will decrease demand for H-1B visa…
State Department Announces Pilot Program for Domestic Visa Renewal for H-1B and L Visa Holders
In this blog post we share very exciting news for H-1B and L visa holders working in the United States. The State Department is planning to resume the process of domestic visa revalidation in certain categories, like H-1B and L-1 visas, through the launch of a new pilot program that…