Category: Blog Posts

DOL Proposes Significant Changes to Prevailing Wage Levels for Employment-Based Immigration Sponsorship

Introduction  As anticipated in a prior blog, the U.S. Department of Labor has now introduced a proposed regulation that would dramatically increase the prevailing wage levels for employment-based immigration programs such as PERM and the H-1B, H-1B1 and E-3 nonimmigrant categories. While the Department’s stated goals are to  ensure wages are commensurate with the experience, education, and supervision required for the job, particularly in occupations with high concentrations of H-1B workers, the practical effect of […]

Written by on April 2, 2026

DOS Further Expands Social Media Vetting for Visa Applicants 

Introduction  Effective March 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of State expanded its online presence review to include additional nonimmigrant visa classifications. The Department’s stated goal of this change is to enhance national security vetting across a broader range of visa applicants. The practical effects will include increased delays and intrusion into applicant personal information.  New Visa Classifications for Online Presence Review  The following nonimmigrant visa categories are now […]

Written by on April 2, 2026

Navigating STEM OPT – Recent DHS Fraud Concerns Highlight Importance of Employer Compliance  

With immigration compliance audits and site visits increasing in most employment-based immigration categories, the STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program is not immune to heightened scrutiny. While this program proven invaluable to both U.S. employers and foreign students for decades, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which administers OPT, has recently raised concerns regarding the integrity of a variety of STEM OPT employment arrangements, particularly focusing on STEM OPT […]

Written by on April 2, 2026

March 31, 2026 Deadline for COVID-Era I-9 Compliance Review 

Employers who relied on pandemic-era flexibilities for Form I-9 verification should be aware of an important upcoming compliance deadline: March 31, 2026. The deadline represents a final opportunity to review and correct Forms I-9 completed using remote document inspection during COVID-19.   With worksite enforcement continuing to increase, employers with remote or hybrid workforces during this period should take proactive steps now to ensure compliance and […]

Written by on March 26, 2026

Artificial Intelligence, Interagency Data Sharing, and Immigration Compliance: A New Reality for Employers 

The adjudication of U.S. immigration petitions and application is undergoing a structural shift—one driven less by statutory change and more by technology, data integration, and artificial intelligence.  USCIS is expanding its use of AI tools, while immigration agencies are increasingly operating within a shared, interconnected data environment. For employers, this evolution has significant implications: immigration compliance is no longer limited to […]

Written by on March 26, 2026

USCIS Introduces New Compliance-Focused Version of Form I-129

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently released a revised Form I-129 that will become mandatory for all filings beginning April 1, 2026. USCIS will accept both the prior edition and the new edition through March 31, 2026, but petitions submitted on older versions after April 1 will be rejected. The timing is particularly important […]

Written by on March 18, 2026

Major Expansion of Canadian Citizenship by Descent

Canada Update Canada recently enacted a significant change to its citizenship laws that could dramatically expand eligibility for Canadian citizenship by descent. The reform removes a long-standing limitation that previously prevented many individuals born outside Canada from inheriting citizenship from their Canadian parents or grandparents. The change may allow millions of individuals, particularly those in […]

Written by on March 18, 2026

EB Dates for Filing Comparison

The April 2026 Visa Bulletin shows limited movement across the EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 Dates for Filing categories, with most classifications remaining stable compared to March. Notable progress is seen in EB-2 and EB-3 for India, while EB-3 “Rest of World” and Mexico advance to current, signaling improved filing eligibility for those categories. The chart […]

Written by on March 18, 2026

Life’s Certainties – Death, Taxes and H-1B Registration Glitches

For HR and Global Mobility professionals managing H-1B cap registrations, there are several things you can count on every year: tight timelines, employee anxiety and technical glitches in the registration system.  The FY 2027 H-1B cap registration period has already demonstrated this familiar pattern. Within the first few days of the registration window opening, users reported a variety of technical issues with the myUSCIS system […]

Written by on March 11, 2026