Policy Updates
Immigration policy changes from the Federal Register, explained in plain language.
The First Wage-Weighted H-1B Lottery Is Over. The Next Fight Has Already Started.
The FY2027 H-1B selection is complete, and early firm-level data confirms the wage-weighted system worked roughly as designed — Level III and IV registrations were selected at rates 2.5 to 2.8 times higher than Level I. But three converging policy shifts may reshape the system again before the next cap season: DOL's proposed prevailing wage hike, the $100,000 fee's September expiration date, and pending litigation in three federal courts.
USCIS H-1B Data Hub Update: Amazon, TCS, and Microsoft Lead FY 2026 Q1 Approvals
The latest USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub update covering fiscal year 2026 quarter one (October through December 2025) reveals Amazon, Tata Consultancy Services, and Microsoft as the top three H-1B sponsors. With overall approval rates holding steady near 98%, the data offers a useful benchmark for H-1B workers and F-1 students exploring employer sponsorship options.
USCIS Data: Amazon, TCS, Microsoft Lead H-1B Approvals in FY2026 Q3
USCIS just released its H-1B Employer Data Hub update for FY 2026 Quarter 3 (April–June 2026), revealing which companies are sponsoring the most H-1B workers right now. Amazon topped the list with over 2,000 approvals, while the top 100 employers combined for more than 25,000 approved beneficiaries. If you're job hunting or tracking which employers are actively sponsoring H-1B workers, this data is a goldmine.
Judge Rules CBP Broke Its Own Court-Ordered Limits in Sacramento Raid
A federal judge found that Border Patrol agents violated a standing court order when they swept a Sacramento Home Depot parking lot in July 2025, arresting day laborers without individualized suspicion. The ruling adds to a growing list of courts pushing back on the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics. If you live or work in California's Eastern District, new documentation requirements for immigration stops now apply.
13,000+ Asylum Seekers Ordered to Countries They've Never Visited Under Trump Policy
More than 13,000 people legally living in the US while awaiting asylum rulings have been ordered deported to countries they have no ties to — places like Uganda, Ecuador, and Honduras. Most haven't been deported yet, but they've lost work permits and are stuck in legal limbo. Advocates say the fear itself is the point.
The H-1B Lottery Just Changed: Winners & Losers
As FY 2027 selection notifications roll out, the first-ever wage-based H-1B lottery is already reshaping the tech workforce, crushing early-career professionals, and triggering legal battles in three federal courts.
DOL Proposes Higher H-1B and PERM Wages — What Workers and Employers Need to Know
The Department of Labor wants to raise the minimum wages employers must pay H-1B, H-1B1, E-3, and PERM-sponsored workers — potentially the biggest prevailing wage overhaul in years. The goal: stop companies from using visa programs to undercut American workers with cheaper foreign labor. If finalized, this rule could raise costs for thousands of employers and reshape how H-1B salaries are set.
The H-1B Revolution: Wage-Based Lottery, Plunging Registrations, and a Healthcare Revolt Reshape America's Skilled Worker Pipeline
The H-1B Revolution: Wage-Based Lottery, Plunging Registrations, and a Healthcare Revolt Reshape America's Skilled Worker Pipeline
White House Creates Fraud Task Force That Could Tighten Immigrant Access to Benefits
President Trump signed an executive order creating a new Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, chaired by the Vice President, targeting federal benefits programs. The order explicitly names immigrants and 'illegal aliens' as exploiting welfare programs, and directs agencies to develop stricter eligibility verification and anti-fraud controls. For visa holders and immigrants, this could mean new documentation hurdles and tighter scrutiny when accessing any federally funded benefits.
State Dept Now Requires Passport Scans for Diversity Visa Lottery — Starting April 10
The U.S. Department of State is cracking down on fraud in the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) lottery by requiring applicants to submit valid passport information and a scanned copy of their passport when entering. The rule takes effect April 10, 2026 — if you plan to enter a future DV lottery, you'll need a passport in hand. This change comes after 2.5 million fraudulent entries were discovered in the DV-2025 cycle alone.
White House Nominates Mullin as DHS Secretary — What It Means for Visa Holders
The White House has sent Markwayne Mullin's nomination as Secretary of Homeland Security to the Senate for confirmation. As DHS oversees USCIS and immigration enforcement, a new secretary could shape H-1B, F-1, and other visa policies. Here's what immigration-watchers should know.