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.
The Geography Loophole: How Location Quietly Reshapes H-1B Lottery Odds Under the Wage-Weighted System
The wage-weighted H-1B lottery ties selection odds to DOL wage levels — which are set relative to local labor markets. The result: a $125,000 salary might get you three lottery entries in San Francisco but four in Dallas. DHS says the system is geographically neutral. The math suggests otherwise.
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.
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.
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.
White House EO Targets Cybercrime TCOs — Visa Restrictions and Sanctions on the Table
President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to crack down on foreign transnational criminal organizations behind ransomware, scam centers, and fraud schemes. The order puts visa restrictions, sanctions, and even diplomat expulsions on the table for nations that shelter these operations. While not an immigration rule change, visa holders from countries linked to cybercrime TCOs could face collateral scrutiny.