Career & Visa News
News and Openbound analysis on hiring, sponsorship and policy for international talent in the U.S.
62 news stories. Page 1 of 6.
DHS Proposes to End Deference to Prior Approvals on H-1B and Other I-129 Extensions
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed removing the rule that tells U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to defer to its own earlier approval when an employer files to extend a worker’s status. The proposed rule, titled “Removing Deference to Prior US
News · Source: Reddy Neumann Brown · Source published
The Finish Line Keeps Moving for H-4 EAD Applicants
A letter many H-4 spouses are now receiving For years, an H-4 spouse could file for a work permit, fly home to India, and still receive the EAD in the mail. USCIS’s own H-4 EAD guidance told applicants in valid H-4 status that they may travel, and that a pending […]
News · Source: Reddy Neumann Brown · Source published
US midterm elections: what could change for international education?
The Democrats’ win in the US midterm elections could have implications for international students studying in the US, amid Trump’s tightening of restrictions on study and post-graduate opportunities.
News · Source: The PIE News · Source published
How to Oppose DHS’s Proposal to Eliminate the 60-Day Grace Period (Free Comment Template Included)
You have until November 10, 2026 to tell DHS what losing the grace period would mean for you The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed eliminating the up to 60-day grace period that lets E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-1B1, L-1, O-1, and TN workers, and their families, remain
News · Source: Reddy Neumann Brown · Source published
DOL’s October 31 H-2B queue snapshot: separate employer requests from certified positions
The FLAG dashboard shows cases, requested positions, first notices and final decisions as different units. Candidates and employers should not read any one total as workers hired or visas issued.
Openbound analysis · Source: U.S. Department of Labor — FLAG · Openbound updated
H-1B 240-Day Rule: Can You Stay in the U.S. After Day 240?
If your H-1B extension has been pending for more than 240 days past your I-94 expiration, you must stop working, but you generally do not have to leave the United States. That second half is the part we see misunderstood most often, and getting it wrong can cost you your […]
News · Source: Reddy Neumann Brown · Source published
November 2026 China EB-2 and EB-3: keep the two Visa Bulletin charts separate
The November bulletin now covers the applicable month. Its priority-date thresholds, USCIS’s monthly filing-chart choice and an employer’s current sponsorship commitment answer different questions.
Openbound analysis · Source: U.S. Department of State · Openbound updated
USCIS’s October 27 L-1 fee guidance: check extension budgets against the actual filing
Policy Alert PA-2026-16 aligns L-1 guidance with a rule effective September 9. Covered employers need to distinguish an extension request from an amendment and verify the current fee schedule.
Openbound analysis · Source: USCIS policy alert (public AILA copy) · Openbound updated
PERM modernization clears OIRA review: what the proposal milestone means
An official October 23 record confirms completion of White House review at the proposed-rule stage. Applicants still need published text and applicable dates before drawing conclusions about a case.
Openbound analysis · Source: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs · Openbound updated
My application under the company’s blanket L approval was denied at the consulate. Can the employer still file an individual L-1 petition with USCIS?
Answer Generally, yes. A blanket L refusal does not necessarily prevent the employer from filing an individual Form I-129 petition with USCIS. The individual petition should address the concerns raised during the blanket application and include detailed evidence establishing each
News · Source: Murthy Law Firm · Source published
B-2 Change of Status RFE: How to Document Your Activities and Temporary Stay
Your H-1B employment ended, and you filed Form I-539 to request a change to B-2 so you could remain in the United States temporarily. Months later, while your application is still pending, USCIS sends a Request for Evidence (RFE) asking how you have spent your time: Where have yo
News · Source: Reddy Neumann Brown · Source published
PERM Modernization Rule Clears OMB Review: What Employers Should Know
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposed rule to modernize the PERM labor certification process has cleared an important regulatory milestone. On October 23, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) completed its review of the proposed rule, titled Modernizing the Labor Ma
News · Source: Reddy Neumann Brown · Source published