Policy Updates

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.

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.

Proposal at publication

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.

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.

2 reports · One policy timeline

EOIR Requires Electronic Filing for Immigration Enforcement Cases at OCAHO

The Justice Department's immigration court arm is going digital: all cases before the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO) must now be filed electronically. The rule took effect immediately on March 2, 2026, changing how employers, workers, and attorneys submit documents in I-9, immigration discrimination, and civil penalty cases. If you're involved in an OCAHO proceeding, your filing process just changed.

2 reports · One policy timeline

USCIS Raises Premium Processing Fees March 1, 2026 to Keep Pace with Inflation

USCIS is increasing its premium processing fees effective March 1, 2026, adjusting for inflation from June 2023 through June 2025. The fee hike follows a congressionally mandated biennial adjustment tied to the Consumer Price Index. Anyone filing Form I-907 on or after March 1 must use the new, higher fees.

DHS Overhauls H-1B Lottery: Higher Pay Now Means Better Odds Starting FY2027

The H-1B lottery is no longer truly random. Starting with the FY2027 registration season, DHS will give higher-paid applicants better odds of selection — meaning your salary level could determine whether you even get a shot at the cap. Here's exactly how the new weighted system works and what it means for workers and employers.