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Real-time H-1B policy shifts, USCIS processing signals, and immigration news — each tied back to the employer, wage, and LCA data you can verify on this platform.
Educational content only — Visa Pulse does not constitute legal advice. Immigration law is fact-specific and changes frequently. Always consult a licensed immigration attorney before making decisions about your visa status.
DOL PERM processing is running 6–8 months for standard cases in March 2026, with analyst-review timing creating the biggest unpredictability. Here is what the latest queue data shows and how employers and employees can plan around it.
DOL LCA wage data for FY2025 H-1B petitions shows median wages climbing 8% year-over-year, with FAANG and AI-focused companies paying median salaries of $220,000–$320,000. Wage level distribution and employer concentration data reveal sharp stratification.
USCIS non-premium H-1B processing times have crept to 6–9 months at multiple service centers, creating significant risk for workers whose status expires before adjudication. Premium processing remains the practical standard for time-sensitive filings.
USCIS data through Q4 2025 shows Requests for Evidence on H-1B petitions reached 38%, with specialty occupation and third-party worksite issues driving the majority of challenges. Consulting and staffing firms are disproportionately affected.
A growing share of H-1B petitions citing DOL Wage Level I (entry-level) are being challenged by USCIS as inconsistent with "specialty occupation" requirements, since a genuine specialty role is argued to command above-entry wages.
The State Department's March 2026 Visa Bulletin shows India EB-2 final action dates retrogressed to January 1, 2013 — a step backward for H-1B holders from India who have been waiting years for visa availability.