Healthcare systems across the United States continue to experience major staffing shortages, affecting hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, rural health centers, and emergency departments. Retirements, burnout, training limitations, and uneven distribution of providers are driving a nationwide workforce crisis. Immigration policy now plays an increasingly important role in determining how quickly health...
Category: H-1B Visa
Ending Employment for H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 Workers: What Employers Must Do to Avoid Ongoing Wage Liability
When a U.S. employer ends the employment of a foreign worker in H-1B, H-1B1, or E-3 status, the process must be handled carefully. Unlike most work categories, these visa classifications come with specific compliance steps that must be completed to end the employer’s legal and wage obligations.
If those...
H-1B Lottery 2025: What Employers and Foreign Workers Need to Know About the New USCIS Fee and Policy Changes
The H-1B visa lottery for Fiscal Year 2026 remains one of the most critical opportunities for U.S. employers to bring skilled foreign talent into the workforce. Despite the introduction of a new $100,000 H-1B petition fee for certain filings, the H-1B program is still very much alive—and understanding who is affected by the fee...
Trump Highlights Ongoing Need for H-1B Talent in Key U.S. Industries
In a recent Fox News interview, former President Donald Trump stated that the United States continues to rely on highly skilled professionals to fill gaps in specialized fields, noting that certain roles require expertise that is not readily available in the domestic labor pool. His comments referenced the importance of foreign talent...
Can You Self-Sponsor an H-1B Visa in 2025? Understanding the Rules and Limitations
Entrepreneurs and professionals often ask whether it’s possible to apply for an H-1B visa without a traditional employer. The short answer is yes — in certain circumstances, a foreign national can form a U.S. company and have that business petition for their own H-1B visa.
US CONSULATES NOW ROUTING B-1 IN LIEU OF H-1B VISAS FOR EXTRA REVIEW IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
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...
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,...