Compliance Stuff

On September 20, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued an  official memorandum  providing guidance on the Presidential Proclamation, “ Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers ,” published on September 19, 2025. USCIS indicates that the $100,000 payment applies to petitions filed after September 20, 2025, and there are no travel restrictions for current H-1B visa holders arising from this proclamation at this time. In addition, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued  guidance  clarifying that the Presidential Proclamation does not restrict the entry of current H-1B visa holders. Thus, the proclamation should not impact the ability of individuals who currently hold H-1Bs to reenter the United States as normal. Quick Hits On September 20, 2025, USCIS issued guidance on the new Presidential Proclamation requiring a $100,000 payment for new H-1B visa petitions filed after September 20 , 2025, while clarifying that current H-1...

The Trump administration is one step closer to unveiling a major change in how H-1B visas are allocated. On August 8, the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) signed off on a proposed rule that could significantly reshape the selection process for specialty occupation workers. While the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has not released details yet, it is expected that the proposal will revive an original Trump 1.0 era idea: replacing the current random lottery with a system that favors higher-wage offers. Under that earlier plan, applications would have been ranked by salary level, with the highest wage tiers getting priority until the annual cap of 85,000 visas is met. The Trump administration framed the wage-based approach as a way to attract and retain highly skilled talent. Critics, including many businesses and immigration advocates, warned that it would shrink the pool of eligible candidates, disproportionately affecting smaller em...