VISA2US Blog

As the immigration system in the United States continues to undergo scrutiny, it is slowly evolving one category at a time. Most recently, on September 18, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security issued a proposed rule to bring the H-2 Temporary Visa Program up-to-date, strengthening protections for these workers and making other much-needed changes. What does this modernization attempt mean for skilled and unskilled workers? We’ll break down the changes here.

If you’ve been paying attention to the H-1B visa petitions this year, you’ve seen the headlines about the record-setting FY 2024 lottery numbers. However, US Citizenship and Immigration Services attributes this high number to fraudulent attempts of registering multiple registrations of the same individuals. This significant issue heavily impacted the lottery system this year, causing USCIS to review and reform registration processes. But since new data shows that more than 75% of H-1B registrations amongst the individually filed petitions would’ve been rejected anyway, a deeper problem runs through this system. How is USCIS addressing the visible issues from FY 2024’s lottery? Read on to find out.

For decades, the United States government has understood the importance of foreign workers as part of a growing economy. Since the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 was enacted, temporary nonimmigrants have come to the country to perform employment under various categories. The most commonly used visas for foreign workers are the H-1B and H-2B, but while there are many similarities between the two documents, at their core, they are distinctly different. What do each of these visas allow the holder, and which one is right for you? Read on to find out.

If you’re searching for a way to get into the United States from another country, you’ve come across an H-1B visa. This document is one of the most popular legal methods to live and work in the US, but it’s not for everyone. Congress established the initial program to attract skilled foreign labor to the country and boost the overall American economy. Since its inception, this visa category has evolved, but in general, it is used by US employers to hire skilled workers with specific traits and a bachelor’s or advanced degree. This coveted visa is always highly sought after, but Fiscal Year 2024 has the makings of a record-breaking number of petitions. What’s the scoop behind the demand? We’ll break down the background of FY 2024 here.

The 2023-2024 H-1B season is just beginning, and US employers are ramping up their efforts to get their registrations selected in the lottery. If you’re one of them or the hopeful foreign worker relying on the visa for your next career move, this time is crucial. With hundreds of thousands of applicants and a limited amount of visas, you need to do what you can to give your registration a leg up over the rest. One way to do that is to obtain a master’s degree or higher. We’ll give you the details here on how this advanced degree can increase your chances of an H-1B visa approval.

Certain fields are known to have job openings that are notoriously difficult to fill. These industries, such as those in the STEM categories, have high-skill requirements and fewer people who meet the criteria to choose from. For that reason, many of these US employers must reach beyond the pool of native applicants and attempt to find foreign workers who can help them. But this action, although it's a last resort, does not get performed lightly. You must follow government guidelines as a US employer looking to hire a nonimmigrant. We've summarized them here to help you get started. 

If you’re planning to (or already have) applied for an H-1B visa, you know the fiscal year cap seasons are more important than any other date on the horizon for you. If you miss the cutoff, you’re stuck waiting until the following year to submit your petition. 2023’s is in the past, but you still have time to get your registrations in for FY 2024 beginning March 1st. Here is everything you need to know to ensure you’re ready for the first opening days.

No other visa has been as challenging to secure in recent years as the H-1B visa. With every passing year, the competition gets tougher and tougher, leading many companies to start their filings months in advance. But 2021 saw a huge decline in applications to the program. What happened? This article will explore how COVID affected the H-1B visa landscape and the steps the government and other branches involved took to recover.

The annual H-1B visa cap season is fast approaching. The time when prospective employers scramble to submit visa applications for prospective employees from a pool of only 65,000 H-1B visas available, plus 20,000 visas given to Advanced Cap applicants. We understand that this process can seem overwhelming. This article will take you through everything you need to know about the H-1B visa cap season and how you can prepare for it as an applicant or employer.

Getting your H-1B visa is an excellent step in your career, but what happens if it’s revoked while you’re in the United States? Can you and your family stay in your temporary home if you’re laid off? We’ll explain the laws and requirements about what you need to do if you face a visa revocation or layoff here.