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The new H-1B weighted selection is a $502 million economic shift in year one alone. Here's what the DHS data actually shows: Current average salaries by wage level: Level I: $85,006 Level II: $103,071 Level III: $131,454 Level IV: $162,528 Under the old lottery system, total annual salaries for H-1B workers: $8.86 billion Under the new weighted system: $9.36 billion That's a half billion dollar increase because fewer Level I positions get selected and more Level III and IV positions do. This also creates an $858 million transfer from Level I workers to higher wage workers in year one. The government estimates H-1B workers stay an average of 5 years, so these effects compound quickly. By year 5, that transfer grows to $4.3 billion annually. This isn't just immigration policy. It's workforce economics at scale.

The Diversity Visa Program has been paused The Trump administration is suspending the immigrant visa program under which the man suspected of killing two Brown University students and an M.I.T. professor moved to the United States, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a social media post Thursday night. The program was created in the late 1980s, and later formalized by Congress in the Immigration Act of 1990, after lawmakers raised concerns that the 1965 Immigration Act had dramatically shifted immigration patterns away from certain countries. It makes up to 55,000 visas available each year through a lottery system for people from countries with low rates of U.S. immigration. - No family ties required. - No employer sponsorship required. - No extraordinary ability or advanced skills required (though applicants must meet minimum education or work experience requirements). Just luck of the draw among eligible applicants. Millions apply each year from countries with historically low U.S. immigration rates. This is not the first time the program has faced scrutiny. During Trump’s first term, he repeatedly criticized the Diversity Visa Program after the 2017 New York City bike path attack, where the perpetrator also entered the U.S. on a diversity visa. Whether this suspension becomes permanent or remains temporary remains to be seen, but it affects tens of thousands of selected applicants and their families currently in the pipeline, many of whom were already awaiting interviews or final processing.

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The U.S. just proposed drastically expanded data collection from tourists traveling on ESTA, including DNA The Department of Homeland Security published new proposed ESTA requirements that go far beyond the social media screening changes. If you’re from a Visa Waiver country (EU, UK, Australia, Japan, etc.), here’s what you would need to provide to visit the U.S. on ESTA if the rule is finalized as written: - Your biometrics: face, fingerprints, iris data, and DNA Note: The proposal includes DNA within the definition of “biometrics,” but it does not explain how these would actually be collected for ESTA travelers. Currently, ESTA applicants do not submit biometrics during the application itself—fingerprints and facial images are taken only on arrival. DHS is proposing broader authority to collect additional biometrics, but the practical method and timing (especially for DNA) are not described and would require separate implementation. - All social media accounts from the last 5 years - All phone numbers from the last 5 years - All email addresses from the last 10 years - Extensive family information: names, phone numbers, birth dates, birth places, and current residences of immediate family members - Business and employment contact information from the last 5–10 years IP addresses and metadata associated with your submitted photo or live-capture selfie (automatically logged by the mobile app) The web-based ESTA application would be phased out entirely. All applicants would have to use a DHS mobile app that automatically captures certain device and location information. This would affect 40 Visa Waiver Program countries whose citizens currently enjoy relatively streamlined entry to the United States. The scope is unprecedented. We are talking about collecting highly sensitive personal data, possibly including genetic information, from tourists who want to visit Disney World or attend a business conference. There is a 60-day public comment period ending in mid-February. Implementation could begin as early as spring if the rule moves forward.

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U.S. consulates are now cancelling some H-1B and H-4 visa appointments with almost no notice. Right before the holidays. Here's whats actually happening: The State Department's new online presence review rule is taking effect December 15th. This requires consular officers to review applicants social media and online presence as part of the vetting process. The result? Some applicants with December and January appointments are seeing interviews moved out by weeks or even months. In some cases pushed all the way to April 2026. The pattern is inconsistent because each post is adjusting to the new screening requirements at a different speed. And here’s the worst part: This is happening right in the middle of holiday travel season. If you were planning to travel abroad and return with a new visa stamp, a sudden appointment cancellation could leave you stranded outside the U.S. for far longer than expected. If you have upcoming travel or a scheduled visa appointment: - Watch your consulate account closely for cancellations or automatic rescheduling. If cancelled or rescheduled, check back frequently in case earlier appointment slots open up. - Build in extra buffer time if you intend to travel internationally. - Make sure your online profiles and social media fields are accurate and publicly accessible. - If your appointment is cancelled, contact your attorney immediately to evaluate next steps This is still developing and we expect more variability across consulates in the coming weeks.