Overview

• Officials clarified the charge is a one-time payment that applies only to new petitions and does not affect renewals or current H-1B holders.
• DHS has advanced a plan to scrap the lottery in favor of ranking petitions by offered wages and skills, opening a notice-and-comment process with legal challenges expected.
• Major business groups have offered cautious statements while employers such as startups, universities and hospitals warn of higher costs and potential hiring delays, with uncertainty highlighted in Massachusetts and Maine.
• JPMorgan economists estimate the policy could cut U.S. work authorizations by up to 5,500 per month, with disproportionate effects on Indian nationals and early-career roles.
• Foreign governments are pitching alternatives to U.S.-bound workers, with Germany, the UK, Canada, China and Hong Kong promoting pathways to attract displaced tech and research talent.