Watts and Watts

10/22/2025

On October 20, 2025, USCIS issued the following updated guidance on the $100,000.00 H-1B fee imposed by the recent Presidential Proclamation.

Who is subject to the $100,000 payment:
The Proclamation applies to new H-1B petitions filed at or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025, on behalf of beneficiaries who are outside the United States and do not have a valid H-1B visa. The Proclamation also applies if a petition filed at or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025, requests consular notification, port of entry notification, or pre-flight inspection for an alien in the United States.
In addition, if a petition filed at or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025, requests a change of status or amendment or extension of stay and USCIS determines that the alien is ineligible for a change of status or an amendment or extension of stay (e.g., is not in a valid nonimmigrant visa status or if the alien departs the United States prior to adjudication of a change of status request), the Proclamation will apply and the payment must be paid according to the instructions provided by USCIS.
The Proclamation does not apply to any previously issued and currently valid H-1B visas, or any petitions submitted prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025. In addition, the Proclamation does not prevent any holder of a current H-1B visa, or any alien beneficiary following petition approval, from traveling in and out of the United States.
The Proclamation also does not apply to a petition filed at or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025, that is requesting an amendment, change of status, or extension of stay for an alien inside the United States where the alien is granted such amendment, change, or extension. Further, an alien beneficiary of such petition will not be considered to be subject to the payment if he or she subsequently departs the United States and applies for a visa based on the approved petition and/or seeks to reenter the United States on a current H-1B visa.

09/21/2025

In response to the Presidential Proclamation signed on September 19, 2025, USCIS released the following guidance:

On September 19, 2025, the President issued a Proclamation, Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, to address systemic abuse of H-1B nonimmigrant visas. Pursuant to sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a), the entry into the United States of aliens as nonimmigrants to perform services in a specialty occupation under section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b), is restricted, except for those aliens whose petitions are accompanied or supplemented by a payment of $100,000. This guidance applies to H-1B employment-based petitions filed after 12:01 AM ET on September 21, 2025. This proclamation only applies prospectively to petitions that have not yet been filed. The proclamation does not apply to aliens who: are the beneficiaries of petitions that were filed prior to the effective date of the proclamation, are the beneficiaries of currently approved petitions, or are in possession of validly issued H-1B non-immigrant visas. All officers of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services shall ensure that their decisions are consistent with this guidance. The proclamation does not impact the ability of any current visa holder to travel to or from the United States.

Watts and Watts continues to monitor the effects of the Proclamation on those who hold H1b status. We will provide updates as new guidance is issued and legal developments occur.

04/21/2025

Please note that non-citizens (also known as aliens) are required to register with USCIS. Information about the Alien Registration Requirement may be found at https://www.uscis.gov/alienregistration. Please review the information shown within the link to determine whether you are registered. If you are not registered, you will need to register online as directed by the instructions found in the link provided above.

IMPORTANT: ANY ALIEN, WHETHER PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED OR NOT, WHO TURNS 14 YEARS OLD IN THE UNITED STATES MUST REGISTER (OR RE-REGISTER) WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER HIS OR HER 14TH BIRTHDAY .

On Jan. 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, which directed the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that aliens comply with their duty to register with the government under section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality ...

11/14/2023

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to prepare for the end of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Title 42 public health Order, which will expire after May 11, 2023, and to return to processing all noncitizens under Title 8 immigration authorities, the Department of Ho...

08/08/2022

Good advice from U S Department of State.

It’s paw-sible that even the cutest of travel companions may not be welcome in some countries. Before you travel overseas with a pet, be sure to check travel.state.gov/destination for country-specific rules and prohibitions.