US Immigration

Nov 116 min read

HR Guide: FY2026 H-1B Lottery | Trump Administration | Key Challenges, Changes & Timelines in 2025

Prepare for the FY2026 H-1B lottery under the evolving Trump administration policies. Stay informed about key changes & challenges for 2025

In Numbers: Selection Chances in H-1B Lottery

Raj Singh

Nov 71 min read

In Numbers: Selection Chances in H-1B Lottery

Discover the odds of the H-1B Lottery 2024 (FY2025) and the chance to secure one of the 85,000 available seats.

Navigating the New H-1B Lottery: Key Changes and Timelines for 2024 (FY2025)

Emily McIntosh

Jan 311 min read

Navigating the New H-1B Lottery: Key Changes and Timelines for 2024 (FY2025)

The H-1B lottery season is upon us. Here's all you want to know about the lottery process and beyond. We also talk about some things that...

HR Guide: How layoffs impact Foreign National Employees' PERM process?

Raj Singh

Aug 23, 20233 min read

HR Guide: How layoffs impact Foreign National Employees' PERM process?

How layoffs impact the PERM process of foreign national employees on work visas

HR Guide: Payroll Tax Withholdings for US Visa Employees (F-1, H-1B, etc.)

Emily McIntosh

Jun 22, 20233 min read

HR Guide: Payroll Tax Withholdings for US Visa Employees (F-1, H-1B, etc.)

As an HR manager, it's important to understand the payroll tax implications for employees on student visas (F-1, J-1, M-1) versus on work...

Emily McIntosh

Jan 30, 20235 min read

2023 (FY 2024) H-1B Lottery Timeline

USCIS announced on January 28, 2023 that the H-1B lottery registration for 2023 (Fiscal Year 2024) will open on March 01, 2023. Details here

HR Guide: Letting go of Foreign National Employees | H-1B Layoff

Emily McIntosh

Oct 11, 20224 min read

HR Guide: Letting go of Foreign National Employees | H-1B Layoff

If laid off, foreign national employees have a limited time to either find a job or change status, or they risk running out of status.

HR Guide: I-94 tracking, extension, and implications on visa status

Emily McIntosh

Aug 18, 20225 min read

HR Guide: I-94 tracking, extension, and implications on visa status

Employers & Foreign National Employees should track the "Admit Until Date" on I-9: how to track, extend and update immigration visa status.

HR Guide: E-3 Visa Process & Processing Times

Raj Singh

Jul 13, 20226 min read

HR Guide: E-3 Visa Process & Processing Times

E-3 processing times: Petitioning through USCIS: 2-4 weeks vs Applying through U.S. Consulate: 1-3 weeks or 3-10 weeks due to covid.

HR Guide: I've been made responsible for immigration. Now what?

Raj Singh

Jun 30, 20225 min read

HR Guide: I've been made responsible for immigration. Now what?

Almost all the people leaders that we talk to, got immigration added to their repertoire because there was no one else to handle it.

Interview Waiver for Work & Student Visas: Things to know

Raj Singh

Jan 3, 20223 min read

Interview Waiver for Work & Student Visas: Things to know

U.S. embassies are temporarily authorized to waive visa interviews for H-1B, H-3, L, O, P, Q, F, M and J visas. What does this mean for you?

Travel ban relaxation from Nov, 2021. What does it mean for employees on visa?

Emily McIntosh

Sep 20, 20212 min read

Travel ban relaxation from Nov, 2021. What does it mean for employees on visa?

Employees on H-1B, L-1, F-1 (OPT / STEM OPT), should be able to travel with the Biden Administration easing rules from November 2021.

Emily McIntosh

Sep 9, 20213 min read

Can I travel on visa this December?

Can I travel on H-1B/OPT/CPT in December? Employees on new/transfer H-1B will have to get visa stamped. Employees on OPT should not risk....

Biden Administration to keep Covid-19 Travel Restrictions

Emily McIntosh

Jul 28, 20211 min read

Biden Administration to keep Covid-19 Travel Restrictions

On July 26, 2021 the White House official announced that Biden Administration would keep the Covid-19 restrictions on international travel.

USCIS Updates Policy to Improve Immigration

Raj Singh

Jun 10, 20212 min read

USCIS Updates Policy to Improve Immigration

USCIS improves RFE and NOID rules and increases the validity period for EAD to 2 years. New rules will benefit H-1B employees.

Do international students on F1 visa or OPT have to return the COVID relief money

Emily McIntosh

Mar 10, 20212 min read

Do international students on F1 visa or OPT have to return the COVID relief money

Should I return the money? Short answer. No. If you received the benefit based on your 2019 taxes then you are legally eligible.

Extended OPT flexibility for international students

Emily McIntosh

Mar 1, 20212 min read

Extended OPT flexibility for international students

USCIS announced on Feb 26, 2021 that they are extending flexibilities for filing I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization or EAD).

2021 (FY2022) H-1B Lottery Selection will be based on Higher Wages

Emily McIntosh

Jan 7, 20212 min read

2021 (FY2022) H-1B Lottery Selection will be based on Higher Wages

UPDATED: Feb 04, 2021 On February 04, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it is delaying the implementation of this...

Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump’s H-1B Visa Rules

Emily McIntosh

Dec 2, 20202 min read

Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump’s H-1B Visa Rules

Update (Dec 04, 2020) On December 03, 2020 the Department of Labor has announced that they will be updating its Foreign Labor Application...

USCIS increases Premium Processing Fee to $2500

Emily McIntosh

Nov 18, 20202 min read

USCIS increases Premium Processing Fee to $2500

USCIS announced on October 16, 2020 that effective October 19, 2020 the cost for Premium Processing has gone up from $1,440 to $2,500 for...