The U.S. Department of State (DOS) recently introduced a new review step for applicants under the B-1 in lieu of H-1B category. U.S. embassies and consulates must now send these applications to the Department of State’s Visa Office in Washington, D.C. for secondary examination before a visa is issued. This added oversight reflects the government’s increasing caution...
Category: H-1B Visa
USCIS Clarifies H-1B Fee Exemptions as EEOC and DOL Step Up Workplace Oversight
In the ever-changing world of immigration and employment law, recent developments continue to shape how employers manage their global workforce. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has clarified that the newly proposed $100,000 H-1B fee will not apply to foreign nationals already in the U.S. seeking a change of status. This...
USCIS Moves Forward with $100,000 H-1B Fee Despite Legal Challenge: What Employers and Applicants Need to Know
The U.S. immigration community is closely watching as USCIS begins implementing the controversial $100,000 H-1B petition fee, even while a major lawsuit filed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce seeks to block the rule before next year’s H-1B lottery.
Background: The Legal ChallengeLate last...
H-1B Proclamation FAQ: USCIS Clarifies $100,000 Fee and October 2025 Updates
On September 19, 2025, President Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation requiring a $100,000 payment for certain H-1B petitions. Since then, federal agencies have released several rounds of clarifications.
To help employers, HR professionals, and visa holders understand how this rule is being applied, NPZ Law Group continues to update...
New USCIS Guidance on H-1B Fee, Exceptions, and Payment Process
USCIS has released detailed guidance explaining how the $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions—required under the September 19 Presidential Proclamation—will be applied.
According to the update, the new fee: Applies only to new H-1B petitions filed on or after September 21,...USCIS Confirms Continued Processing Despite Shutdown Delays
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it will continue processing H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, and CW-1 petitions during the government shutdown. However, employers and petitioners should be aware that the shutdown may delay access to required Department of Labor (DOL) certifications, which could affect the timely filing of petitions...
Legal Challenge Filed Over $100,000 H-1B Fee: What Employers Need to Know
The first major lawsuit has been filed challenging President Trump’s recent Presidential Proclamation requiring a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions. This legal action represents the beginning of what could become a significant test of executive authority in the immigration arena.
On September 19, 2025, President Trump issued a...
Agency Clarifications on $100,000 H-1B Fee: What We Know, What’s Still Unclear
In the days following President Trump’s Proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions, federal agencies have begun clarifying how this unprecedented requirement will be applied.
What Agencies Have Confirmed New Petitions Only: The Department of State (DOS), USCIS, and...Proposed H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Bill Reintroduced: What Employers Need to Know
On September 29, 2025, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) reintroduced a bipartisan bill aimed at reforming the H-1B and L-1 visa programs.
The proposal—known as the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act—seeks to raise wage requirements, tighten compliance rules, and restrict third-party placement of foreign workers.
If enacted,...
USCIS Site Visits Reported for STEM OPT and H-1B Applicants
In recent weeks, there have been multiple reports of USCIS officers conducting site visits in Minnesota and the Dakotas targeting foreign students and workers with pending applications. The visits have focused on individuals with:
STEM OPT extensions H-1B change of status petitions