DHS Says 200,000+ H-1B Applicants Paid $100,000 Fast-Track Fee in FY2026
DHS reports over 200,000 H-1B applicants used the $100,000 fast-track route in 2026, sparking debate over visa equity…
How to Split Social Security and Medicare Tax When Switching F-1 OPT to H-1B in One Year
Learn how to manage F-1 to H-1B tax transitions, separate exempt FICA wages, and file for Social Security…
H-1B Lottery Weights Wages Higher in Fiscal Year 2027, Benefiting High Earners
H-1B registrations for FY 2027 dropped 38.5% as new wage-weighted rules and beneficiary-centric selection favor high-paid, advanced degree…
ICE Investigates Thousands of Foreign Students for Phantom Employees on Optional Practical Training
ICE investigates 10,000+ F-1 students for OPT fraud involving shell companies and phantom jobs, threatening their legal status…
ICE Targets OPT Fraud, Putting F-1 Students and Employers on Alert to Verify Form I-983
U.S. authorities intensify OPT fraud crackdowns. Students and employers must ensure real-time SEVIS accuracy to protect 2026 visa…
ICE Flags 10,000 Foreign Students in STEM OPT Visa Misuse Probe
ICE flags 10,000 students for OPT visa misuse in 2026, targeting shell companies and status violations. Affected F-1…
Homeland Security Proposes Fixed Visa Terms, Threatening Optional Practical Training
DHS proposes replacing 'duration of status' with fixed stay limits for F, J, and I visas in 2026,…
USCIS Runs Beneficiary-Centric H-1B Lottery, Cutting Duplicates as Demand Persists
USCIS adopts a beneficiary-centric H-1B lottery for 2026, reducing duplicate registrations and focusing on case quality over registration…
Initial OPT Guidelines: Self-Employment and the 90-Day Unemployment Limit
Learn how F-1 students can use self-employment and consulting to maintain OPT status and stay within the 90-day…
USCIS Backlog Freezes 12,000 Students as STEM OPT Extension and OPT Adjudications Stall
International students in 2026 face OPT delays and rising fees, making immigration timing a critical factor for job…
Indian Tech Workers Face Harsh Reality After H-1B Layoffs
Over 114,000 tech layoffs in 2026 force Indian H-1B holders into a 60-day race for status, fueling a…
House Republicans Propose 3-Year H-1B Pause and $200,000 Salary Rule in 2026
Rep. Eli Crane proposes the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026, seeking a 3-year visa pause and…
Stanford Graduate Builds Six-Figure PR Firm Under F-1 and OPT Work Rules
After failing to land a full-time job, Stanford graduate Ellen Yang built Punctuation PR into a six-figure agency.…
Trump Administration Intensifies Surprise Site Checks on 100,000 OPT Students
The Trump administration expands OPT oversight with unannounced residence visits and stricter 2026 reporting rules to protect the…