Consulate interviews for O-1 visas are getting tougher. Here is a recent report from our Indian client who filed an agent-based O-1 through Artists & Entrepreneurs Inc. The case was approved through Premium Processing without an RFE. It’s important to note that the officer was checking everything she said online in real time. This is […]

Many clients are currently very concerned about the new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa application that was announced last Friday. We would like to provide some clarification and explanation here. Per the USCIS memo, USCIS has confirmed that the proclamation applies only to H-1B applications filed after September 21, 2025. It is prospective in nature. […]

As of July 2025, USCIS is grappling with a record-breaking backlog of 11.3 million pending immigration applications. This backlog marks the highest volume of pending cases ever recorded by the agency. For the first time in over a year, USCIS reported a “frontlog”—cases received but not yet opened or officially entered into the processing system—that […]

On December 17, 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the “H-1B Modernization Final Rule,” implementing significant changes to the H-1B nonimmigrant visa category. The stated purpose of the final rule is “to modernize and improve the efficiency of the H–1B program, add benefits and flexibilities, and improve integrity measures.” While the changes will primarily affect H–1B […]

In recent years, an increasing number of immigrant entrepreneurs have faced challenges in obtaining visas to establish and operate businesses in the United States. The Global Entrepreneur-in-Residence Program (GEIR), an innovative solution, has gained attention from states and universities as a way to address these issues. This article aims to provide practical resources for clients […]

We would like to advise that as of February 26, 2024, the following Premium Processing filing fees will be raised:   Form Previous Fee New Fee Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker $1,500 (H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status) $2,500 (All other available Form I-129 classifications (E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-3, L-1A, L-1B, LZ, O-1, […]

  Each year, the United States allocates 65,000 H1B visas for individuals with a bachelor’s degree and an additional 20,000 H1B visas for those who possess a master’s degree or higher from an accredited and public or other nonprofit U.S. institution of higher education. Notably, certain categories are exempt from the H1B cap, enabling applications […]