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...
Category: H-1B Visa
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 petitionsDOL Proposes New H-1B Wage Rules Following Presidential Proclamation
On September 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register (Document No. 2025-18473) that would raise prevailing wage levels for H-1B visa holders. This proposal follows President Trump’s recent Proclamation requiring a $100,000 fee for certain H-1B petitions, and is part of...
Project Firewall: DOL’s New H-1B Enforcement Initiative
On September 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced Project Firewall, a new enforcement initiative aimed at protecting America’s highly skilled workforce and strengthening oversight of the H-1B visa program.
This development follows the recent Presidential Proclamation requiring a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions. Together, these...
H-1B Proclamation FAQ: USCIS Clarifies $100,000 Fee
On September 19, 2025, President Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation requiring a $100,000 payment for certain H-1B petitions. On September 21, 2025, USCIS issued official guidance and an FAQ confirming how this new policy will be applied.
To help employers and visa holders, NPZ Law Group has prepared this...
Update: Clarifications on Presidential Proclamation Requiring $100,000 H-1B Fee
On September 19, 2025, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation introducing a new $100,000 fee for certain H-1B petitions. NPZ Law Group previously shared the details of this Proclamation and its potential impact on employers and workers.
Since then, additional updates from professional associations suggest that the fee may apply...
USCIS Issues Guidance on Presidential Proclamation and $100,000 H-1B Fee
On September 21, 2025, USCIS issued a policy memorandum clarifying the scope of the recent Presidential Proclamation requiring a $100,000 payment for certain H-1B petitions.
This blog serves as a living FAQ and will be updated as new clarifications emerge from DHS, the Department of State, or related litigation.