On September 19, 2025, the Department of Labor ("DOL") launched "Project Firewall", a broad enforcement initiative aimed at strengthening employer compliance with the H-1B visa program "to protect America's highly skilled workforce." This coincided with President Trump's proclamation, "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers", issued the same day. A key feature of Project Firewall is the use of Secretary-certified investigations. For the first time in DOL history, the Secretary of Labor will personally certify the initiation of investigations where there is "reasonable cause" to believe an employer is not in compliance. Investigations may be launched through secretary certification or traditional enforcement channels. This marks a significant expansion of the DOL's enforcement role and, according to a report by Bloomberg Law on April 7, 2026, a DOL official noted "the department has marked a 48% increase in its caseload" of H-1B investigations since launching the program.
Read moreUSCIS Issues New Guidance on $100K H-1B Fee
Following President Trump’s September 19, 2025 proclamation “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” requiring employers to pay a $100,000 fee for certain H 1B workers seeking to enter the United States, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) released additional guidance on October 20, 2025. This update, published on USCIS’s H-1B webpage , clarifies how and when the new fee applies but still leaves several key issues unresolved.
Read moreHelpful Q and A’s on the New H-1B Visa Rule
Uncertainty continues to surround the new presidential proclamation on H-1B visas, as critical operational details remain unresolved. Employers, attorneys, and H-1B beneficiaries alike should proceed with caution and be prepared for additional guidance and possible changes in the days ahead. We have published a more detailed overview of the proclamation, but in response to the immediate concerns raised by our community, we have prepared answers to some of the most pressing questions. These responses are based on the latest guidance from United Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) and other official sources.
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