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H1B
As H-1B Restrictions Tighten Continuously, Are There Backup Plans for Staying in the US?
Big Tech layoff waves continue to hit, H-1B status buffer spaces continue to tighten, and career risks for staying in the US escalate. Layoffs in the US tech sector are ongoing. According to reports, Oracle is expanding its 2026 restructuring plan, with expected related costs rising from approximately $2.1 billion to $2.8 billion—an increase of about $700 million—primarily earmarked for further workforce reductions and restructuring.
Major Legislative Proposal: Is the H-1B Being Abolished?
There is more significant news regarding the H-1B visa! Just as the discussions surrounding the rise in H-1B salary thresholds have yet to subside, another major update has emerged in the U.S. immigration community. According to Newsweek, U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN) has introduced a new bill in Congress—the Assimilation Act—which plans to completely eliminate the Green Card Lottery and terminate the H-1B visa program in its entirety. This proposal has been described by some media outlets as "the most far-reaching immigration system reform of this century."
H-1B Alert! The Landscape for Staying in the U.S. Shifts Again
Recently, many international students have been repeatedly refreshing their systems, waiting for their H-1B lottery results. The H-1B registration for the 2027 fiscal year closed on March 19, and results have begun to appear in some applicants' myUSCIS accounts. Meanwhile, reports suggest that this year's H-1B registration volume may have declined by 30%-50% compared to last year. This does not reflect a lack of desire to stay in the U.S., but rather that this path is becoming increasingly difficult. The annual H-1B quota is 65,000 regular spots plus 20,000 spots reserved for those with a U.S. master's degree or higher, totaling approximately 85,000. However, the number of applicants consistently far exceeds the quota. Even with a decline in registration for the 2026 fiscal year, the reality of hundreds of thousands of people competing for 85,000 spots remains unchanged.
U.S. H-1B Visa Lottery Concluded!
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the conclusion of the H-1B work visa lottery for the 2018 fiscal year. Since the agency began accepting applications for the new fiscal year on the 3rd of this month, it has received a total of 199,000 applications. This figure is far below the 300,000 to 400,000 originally predicted by outside observers and marks the first time the number has fallen below 200,000 since 2014.