FREE DOWNLOAD: Click Here To Download The Employers Guide to the H-1B Process.

[gtranslate]

Call For A Free 15 Minute Consultation

FREE DOWNLOAD: Click Here To Download The Employers Guide to the H-1B Process.
Add Your Heading Text Here

Category: H-1B Visas

The High-Skilled Visa Landscape in 2026: Rising Denials, Higher Stakes, and the Value of Experienced Counsel

The High-Skilled Visa Landscape in 2026: Rising Denials, Higher Stakes, and the Value of Experienced Counsel If you are a skilled professional, an employer of foreign nationals, or a company navigating the U.S. immigration system, 2026 presents the most challenging adjudication environment in nearly a decade. Denial rates for employment-based visa categories are climbing sharply. Fees have increased dramatically. Requests

Read More »
Donald Smith 05/06/2026

I am on an H-1B Visa. Have Just Been Laid Off. What about the 60-Day Rule?

I am on an H-1B Visa. Have Just Been Laid Off. What about the 60-Day Rule? For persons in the United States on H-1B status who have recently been laid off or are concerned about their future employment, this set of Questions and Answers addresses these issues. Please note, however, that this is general information and is not intended to

Read More »
Donald Smith 04/24/2026

H-1B Cap Season: What Employers Should Be Doing Before Registration Opens

Each year, employers focus closely on the March H-1B registration window. By then, however, many of the most important decisions and mistakes have already been made. Successful H-1B cap filings are rarely the result of last-minute preparation. They are the product of careful planning that begins well before registration opens. Why February Matters February is the final opportunity for employers

Read More »
Donald Smith 02/04/2026

What to Do If Your Situation Has Changed Since You Were Chosen in the H1B Lottery

Being selected in the H1B visa lottery is a significant milestone for professionals aiming to work in the United States. However, changes in personal or professional circumstances between the time of lottery selection and visa issuance are not uncommon. In such cases, updating your H1B application becomes essential to ensure compliance and maintain eligibility.  Below, we’ll guide you through the

Read More »
Donald Smith 05/31/2024

Time to Plan for the 2025 H1B Cap Lottery

As the world continues to recover and adapt to post-pandemic realities, the competition for top talent in specialty occupations is becoming fiercer. For employers in the United States, this means the H1B visa program remains a critical pathway to securing the skilled workers needed to drive innovation and growth.  However, with the annual cap on H1B visas and the introduction

Read More »
Donald Smith 02/17/2024

USCIS Completes Second H-1B Lottery for FY 2024

On August 1st, 2023, the USCIS announced it had completed a second round of H-1B registration selections for the FY 2024 visa lottery. Registrants notified of their selection after this round have from August 2nd to October 31st, 2023, to submit their complete applications for their H-1B visas.  Initially, a second round of H-1B lottery selections appeared unlikely for FY

Read More »
Donald Smith 10/17/2023

USCIS Anticipates Low H-1B Cap Acceptances After Fraud Investigations

The H-1B visa registration, lottery, and application process for FY 2024 has been fraught so far. After USCIS announced its second lottery picks, it became clear that the agency anticipates low approval ratings from the first-round selections. This comes after it announced wide-reaching fraud investigations to address the shockingly high number of registrations for the period.  The agency initially selected

Read More »
Donald Smith 10/17/2023

OPT Beneficiaries Sue DHS for Alleged Unlawful Visa Denials

The FY 2024 H-1B lottery season has been one of the most complicated application periods of the last decade, and this shows no sign of changing. In a recent development, nearly 70 OPT visa holders have sued the federal government, claiming their H-1B applications were unjustly denied.  The class-action lawsuit, Sharma et al. v. United States Department of Homeland Security,

Read More »
Donald Smith 10/16/2023

Canadian Program to Recruit US H-1B Visa Holders Meets Quota in One Day

US H-1B visas are more popular than ever before. In fact, these employment visas are so renowned for attracting educated and driven applicants that Canada has opened a program specifically to poach H-1B holders.  This program, known as the Tech Talent Strategy, was designed to attract some of the best and brightest H-1B applicants to Canada. It offered applicants with

Read More »
Donald Smith 08/16/2023

U.S. Pilot Program May Permit Limited In-Country Renewal of H-1B Visas

As part of a new “people-to-people” initiative, the Biden administration has announced the launch of a limited pilot program to permit recipients of certain employment visas to renew their visas without leaving the country.  This announcement occurred after a bilateral meeting between President Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tens of thousands of H-1B workers must leave the U.S.

Read More »
Donald Smith 08/08/2023

Recent Posts

Immigration Categories

The employers’ step-by-step guide to

THE H1-B PROCESS

FY2024

Schedule a consultation

Litwin & Smith Pleasanton, CA Office
PLEASANTON OFFICE

5829 Stoneridge Mall Road, Suite 218,
Pleasanton, CA 94588

SANTA CLARA OFFICE

5201 Great America Parkway,
Suite 320, Santa Clara, CA 95054

[gtranslate]

Call for a 15 minute consult