For skilled professionals on H-1B status, the U.S. green card backlog — particularly in EB-2 and EB-3 for Indian and Chinese nationals — can stretch for decades. As a result, many individuals are exploring Canada’s Express Entry system as a parallel path: obtaining Canadian permanent residence more quickly, building long-term stability, and...
Category: H-1B Visa
H-1B Lottery Not Selected? Work Visa Options Beyond the H-1B Cap
Each year, USCIS receives far more H-1B registrations than the limited number of cap-subject visas available, making the lottery highly competitive for employers and foreign national professionals alike. As a result, many qualified candidates are not selected.
For that reason, it is important for both employers and H-1B candidates...
New H-1B Form I-129 Changes: Why Wage Level Selection Now Matters More Than Ever
Recent updates to the H-1B process are adding a new layer of complexity for employers and applicants. With a revised Form I-129 and changes tied to the H-1B lottery system, wage level selection is becoming a critical factor—not just at filing, but at the very beginning of the process.
Employers...
ABCs of H-1Bs (This Is Part 6 of a 7-Part Series): The H-1B Cap Was Reached; Do I Still Have a Chance of Getting an H-1B Visa?
During the initial H-1B registration period, prospective petitioners or their authorized representatives must electronically submit a separate registration naming each alien for whom they seek to file an H-1B cap-subject petition. If a sufficient number of registrations are received, USCIS will randomly select the number of registrations projected as needed to reach the...
New H-1B Policies Could Make Healthcare Hiring Even More Difficult
Hospitals, clinics, and academic medical centers across the United States already face significant workforce shortages. Recent changes to the H-1B visa program may make recruiting international medical professionals even more challenging.
A combination of new government policies—including a substantial payment requirement for certain H-1B filings, increased scrutiny during adjudications,...
ABCs of H-1Bs (This Is Part 5 of a 7-Part Series): Does My Master’s Degree Qualify for the H-1B Master’s Cap?
Many F-1 visa holders, particularly those who are engaged in OPT change their immigration status to become professional and specialty workers (H-1B workers). The H-1B cap is the Congressionally mandated limit on the number of individuals who may be granted H-1B status during each fiscal year. Most foreign nationals seeking H-1B nonimmigrant...
Webinar Video: H-1B Visa Lottery 2026-2027 Updates, Wage-Weighted Selection & Employer Strategy
This NPZ Law Group webinar is designed for HR teams and employers preparing for the H-1B Lottery 2026–2027 season. We cover the registration timeline, beneficiary-centric process, and the shift to wage-weighted selection—along with what this change means for wage level strategy, SOC code planning, worksite decisions, and consistency between registration and petition...
USCIS Proposes Major Changes to the H-1B Registration Selection Process for FY 2027
USCIS has announced proposed revisions to the H-1B cap registration system that could significantly change how beneficiaries are selected for FY 2027.
If implemented, the changes would move the H-1B lottery away from a purely random selection model and toward a weighted system tied to wage levels.
ABCs of H-1Bs (This Is Part 4 of a 7-Part Series): The Whys and Hows of Education and/or Experience Evaluations in the Context of H-1B Visa Preparation and Filing
The threshold question for an H-1B nonimmigrant work visa is whether the intending H-1B nonimmigrant has the equivalence of a U.S. Bachelor’s Degree in a specific field. Most of the prospective H-1B employees and H-1B employers begin with either of the following two thoughts: “I would like to work in the U.S. using...
FY 2027 H-1B Cap Lottery Registration: Key Dates and Next Steps
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the FY 2027 H-1B cap initial registration period will open at 12:00 PM Eastern on March 4, 2026, and will remain open through 12:00 PM Eastern on March 19, 2026.
During this registration window, employers (and their authorized representatives) must...