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

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

Is OPT Ending in 2025? Trump Administration Proposals and What International Students Need to Know

By C. Matthew Schulz

Summary: OPT Under Fire — But Still Standing

In 2025, reports of the Trump Administration planning to eliminate or severely restrict Optional Practical Training (OPT) have spread rapidly across media outlets and university campuses. The Optional Practical Training program allows F-1 international students to work in the U.S. for up to 12 months after graduation (or up to 36 months for STEM graduates).

Under Pressure: How the Trump Administration’s H‑1B Reforms Are Reshaping U.S. Workforce Strategy

By C. Matthew Schulz

U.S. employers who rely on the H‑1B program increasingly face a changing and uncertain environment. 

Trump Gold Card Update

By C. Matthew Schulz

On September 19, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14351, launching a new immigration initiative dubbed the “American Gold Card” program, as was widely reported (see, e.g., The Atlantic, Politico). 

DHS Proposes Weighted Lottery System for H-1B Visas Favoring Higher Wages

By C. Matthew Schulz

In a significant policy development, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a proposed rule to amend the H-1B cap-subject visa selection process. Announced in the Federal Register on September 24, 2025 (90 Fed. Reg.

Trump’s Immigration Proclamation Sends Shockwaves Through U.S. Business Sector

By. C. Matthew Schulz

On September 19, 2025, President Trump signed a sweeping proclamation that stunned the U.S. technology sector and global economy. The measure imposes a $100,000 fee on new H-1B entries and announced the creation of “Gold” and “Platinum” immigration cards offering fast-track residency options tied to multi-million-dollar payments.

Immigration Consequences of “Un-American” Activities: USCIS Policy Update

By C. Matthew Schulz

On August 19, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a press release announcing that it will now consider anti-Americanism in discretionary immigration decisions.