Papagikos Law

10/13/2026

The $100,000 H-1B fee is blocked. Again.

And this time, it’s a second federal court saying no.

Let’s separate fact from panic.

First, what’s true:

✅ A federal judge in California issued a preliminary injunction that stops DHS from enforcing the $100,000 H-1B fee.

✅ It’s the second court order blocking the fee. A Massachusetts court already vacated it, and an appeals court refused to put that ruling on hold.

✅ The President extended the fee by proclamation last month. Even so, with two court orders in place, USCIS should not be collecting it.

Why the courts stopped it:

→ The California judge found the challengers are likely to win on the claim that DHS’s guidance was arbitrary and capricious

→ The court also found DHS likely skipped the notice-and-comment process required under the Administrative Procedure Act

→ The Massachusetts court went further. It treated the fee as a tax the proclamation had no proper authority to impose

What this means right now:

→ Employers filing H-1B petitions should not be paying the $100,000 fee

→ If an offer was put on hold because of the fee, it may be worth reopening that conversation

Worth knowing:

→ Not every court agrees. A federal judge in Washington, D.C. declined to block the fee

→ A preliminary injunction is temporary. It holds while the case moves forward, not forever

→ If USCIS argues the new proclamation falls outside the existing court orders, expect the challengers to push back fast

The fee is off the table for now.

“For now” is the part that matters, so plan with that in mind.

Was the $100K fee holding back your H-1B plans?

⚖️ PAPAGIKOS LAW

Employment-Based & Family-Based Immigration | Investor Visas

📞 (561) 866-8268

🌐 www.papagikoslaw.com

📧 [email protected]

📍 Boca Raton, FL

10/10/2026

Thinking about opening or buying a business in Florida?

The E-2 visa might be the path you haven't considered.

Here's how it works:
✅ No lottery
✅ No fixed minimum investment, it has to be "substantial" relative to the business
✅ Your spouse can work in the U.S.
✅ It can be renewed as long as the business is operating

What people get wrong:
→ It's only available to citizens of treaty countries (Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Spain and many more, but not Brazil or India, for example)
→ The money has to be committed and at risk, not sitting in a bank account
→ The business needs to be more than just a way to support yourself

One more thing: E-2 doesn't lead directly to a green card. If permanent residence is your long-term goal, plan that from day one.

Questions about whether your country qualifies? Drop them below.

Call now to connect with business.

10/07/2026

Most investors think the only way to get a U.S. Green Card through investment is to show up with $800K and wait years.

There’s a smarter path. And it starts with a visa most people completely overlook.

Here’s the part nobody’s explaining.

First, what’s true:
✅ EB-5 requires a minimum investment of $800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area ($1,050,000 outside of one).
✅ Your investment has to create at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers.
✅ But no, you don’t have to start there.

The E-2 to EB-5 Strategy

Step 1: Get in with the E-2
→ Available to nationals of treaty countries
→ No fixed minimum. The investment just has to be substantial for the type of business
→ You live in the U.S. and run your company while it grows

Step 2: Let your business build the case
→ Revenue, payroll, and U.S. hires start adding up
→ You’re operating on the ground, not planning from abroad

Step 3: Transition to EB-5
→ Increase your investment to the EB-5 threshold
→ Show the jobs your business has already created
→ File for permanent residency with a real track record behind you

A few things to keep in mind:
→ The E-2 is a nonimmigrant visa. On its own, it doesn’t lead to a Green Card
→ Not every E-2 business will qualify for EB-5. How you structure it from day one matters
→ Timing, job counts, and source of funds all need to be planned, not improvised

The E-2 gets you in fast. Your business builds the case. And by the time you’re ready for EB-5, you’ve already done the hardest work.

No starting over. No guessing. Just a strategy that compounds.

Swipe through to see exactly how it works 👉
If you’re serious about making this happen, let’s talk.

⚖️ PAPAGIKOS LAW
Employment-Based & Family-Based Immigration | Investor Visas
📞 (561) 866-8268
🌐 www.papagikoslaw.com
📧 [email protected]
📍 Boca Raton, FL