The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is scheduled to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking on September 11, 2026, that would eliminate the discretionary grace period of up to 60 days currently available to certain nonimmigrant workers following the end of employment. The proposed...
For many U.S. employers, sponsoring a foreign national for H1B classification begins with the annual H1B cap registration process. Because the demand for H1B visas consistently exceeds the number available each fiscal year, many employers must rely on the H1B lottery before they may file...
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is considering a proposal that could significantly affect certain H-4 dependent spouses of H1B nonimmigrant workers. Listed under Regulatory Information Number 1615-AD14, the proposal would eliminate the regulatory basis for eligible H-4 spouses to request employment authorization under the...
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is scheduled to publish a proposed rule in the Federal Register on August 25, 2026, proposing a new $103,265 fee for all H-1B cap-subject petitions, including petitions eligible for the advanced degree exemption. The fee would be in addition...
On August 5, 2026, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a Policy Alert revising its guidance regarding the evidence required with initial benefit requests and the circumstances under which officers may issue, or decline to issue, Requests for Evidence (RFEs), and Notices of...
The nuts and bolts of Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) waivers and best practices in preparing these waiver packages are discussed by Murthy Law Firm attorneys in the August 2026 podcast.The MP3 is available here and soon can be found in the archive of our podcasts and...
On July 24, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit denied the Trump Administration’s request to stay a federal district court judgment that vacated agency actions implementing the $100,000 H1B payment requirement. As a result, the district court’s order blocking the $100,000...
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced in a blast email that they have received enough petitions to reach both the congressionally mandated 65,000 H1B regular cap and the 20,000 H1B U.S. advanced degree exemption, commonly known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year 2027...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a final rule in the Federal Register that replaces duration-of-status admissions for F, J, and I nonimmigrants with fixed admission periods. The rule is scheduled to take effect 15.Sep.2026, subject to the congressional review process and...
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has taken the first formal step toward a significant overhaul of the permanent labor certification (PERM) program. According to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) regulatory agenda, the DOL has listed a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)...
