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On September 21, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued formal guidance on the recent Presidential Proclamation mandating a $100,000 filing fee for certain H-1B petitions. This memorandum offers official confirmation of points we previously analyzed in our earlier breakdown of the proclamation. Below, we outline the key clarifications provided by USCIS and what they mean for employers, current H-1B visa holders, and prospective applicants. Key Takeaways from USCIS Policy Guidance Prospective Only The $100,000 fee only applies to new H-1B petitions filed on or after September 21, 2025. Employers planning new filings should be prepared to budget accordingly. Not Retroactive Petitions...

On September 19, 2025, the U.S. President issued a groundbreaking proclamation that redefines the landscape of the H-1B visa program, a long-standing pathway for skilled foreign professionals to work in the United States. For employers, employees, and legal practitioners, this new development introduces high-stakes financial and procedural challenges and demands immediate attention. As a leading immigration law firm serving clients across the United States, VKM Law Group breaks down what this means for you and how we can help you navigate this complex transition. What Does the New H-1B Proclamation Say? Effective September 21, 2025, U.S. employers seeking to hire foreign workers under...

In a growing number of recent cases, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued Notices to Appear (NTAs) in removal proceedings to H-1B workers—even when they had valid and timely-filed change of employer (COE) or change of status (COS) applications within the 60-day grace period following termination of employment. This marks a significant policy shift and raises questions about the security of the grace period, once considered a crucial protection for high-skilled foreign nationals. What Is the 60-Day Grace Period? Under 8 CFR § 214.1(l)(2), foreign nationals in certain nonimmigrant visa categories—including H-1B, H-1B1, E-3, L-1, O-1, and TN—are granted a discretionary...