The US State Department Increased Number of Countries Whose Citizens May Be Required To Post Bonds ... Again

By C. Matthew Schulz

The U.S. Department of State expanded significantly the visa bond program for B-1/B-2 visitors. 

U.S. consular officers may require certain applicants from designated countries to post a refundable bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance

The U.S. State Department Stopped Issuing Immigrant Visa for Nationals of 75 Countries.

By C. Matthew Schulz

The U.S. Department of State instructed consular officers to stop the issuance of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries in a January 14, 2026 cable to all diplomatic and consular posts. Immigrant visa interviews and adjudications continue, but prospecitve immigrants from the listed countries cannot receive newly issued immigrant visas at this time.

US Department of Homeland Security Resumes Expedited Airport Screening for U.S. Citizens and International Travelers

By C. Matthew Schulz

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has restarted processing for the Global Entry and TSA PreCheck trusted traveler programs after a temporary shutdown earlier this month. 

After a pause disrupted expedited airport screening services for many international and domestic travelers, DHS has now resumed enrollment processing and operations.

New Rule for US Employers of Religious Workers

By C. Matthew Schulz

After a religious worker reaches the five-year R-1 maximum, the worker still must depart the United States—but DHS no longer requires a one-year stay abroad before the worker can seek readmission.

FY 2027 H-1B Cap Registration Opens March 4: Key Dates, Fees, and New Selection Rules Explained

By C. Matthew Schulz

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the opening of the FY 2027 H-1B cap initial registration period, continuing the electronic registration system that employers and immigration counsel must use to participate in the annual H-1B lottery.

Project Firewall: DOL Signals Increased H-1B Enforcement with New Employer Flyer

By C. Matthew Schulz

New DOL Flyer Signals Renewed Focus on H-1B Compliance

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has released a new employer flyer explaining Project Firewall, its H-1B visa enforcement initiative focused on protecting U.S. workers and ensuring employer compliance. The flyer summarizes employer obligations and highlights the DOL’s authority to investigate H-1B violations.

SchulzLaw Blog January 17, 2026. The Next Step After H-1B Lottery Selection: The New $100,000 "Tax" or H-1B Filing Fee Explained

By C. Matthew Schulz

While the focus now is rightly on the new wage-weighted H-1B lottery in March 2026, soon enough U.S. employers lucky enough to have registration success will move to the next stage of the process: filing H-1B cap petitions with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

H-1B Program Update: USCIS Replaces Random Lottery with Wage-Weighted Selection System

By C. Matthew Schulz

Overview of the December 29, 2025 Final Rule

On December 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule fundamentally changing how cap-subject H-1B visas are selected. Beginning with the FY 2027 H-1B cap season, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will replace the traditional random lottery with a wage-weighted selection system that gives preference to higher-paid, higher-skill positions.

New USCIS H-1B Registration Rule. SchulzLaw Blog January 9, 2026.

By C. Matthew Schulz

USCIS has finalized a major overhaul to the H-1B cap registration process, effective for the upcoming FY 2027 H-1B cap season. Beginning with the registration period expected to open in March 2026, the selection process will shift to a beneficiary-centric model—a fundamental change aimed at increasing fairness, deterring abuse, and promoting integrity in the H-1B program.

What’s Changing: Key Takeaways from the New Rule