Kapil Shah

USCIS Clarifies $100K H-1B Fee (Overseas Filings) USCIS confirmed the $100,000 one-time fee applies mainly to new H-1B petitions for workers outside the U.S., while most F-1, L-1, and current H-1B holders already in the U.S. are exempt. Based on FY2024 data, roughly 46% of initial H-1B approvals involved consular processing—meaning nearly half of new cases could be affected. Combined with the shift toward a salary-based selection system, odds may improve for qualified candidates already in the U.S. Source: https://lnkd.in/g6wGmWwn

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Raising the H-1B visa application fee to $100,000 would benefit the U.S. and potentially hurt India and other countries. The proposed policy aims to favor elite, high-salaried professionals over the high-volume recruitment of IT outsourcing firms. How America Benefits A massive increase in the H-1B fee would shift the visa program's focus from a lottery to a market-based system, which could benefit America in several ways: * Attracts Top Talent: The high cost would be a barrier for IT outsourcing firms and a manageable expense for large U.S. tech companies like Meta and Google, which are willing to pay millions for top-tier engineers and researchers. This would open more visa slots for the "best and brightest" in fields like AI, helping the U.S. maintain its lead in technology. * Reduces "Body Shopping": The current lottery system is often criticized for enabling "body shopping," where IT consulting firms mass-recruit workers at lower wages. A higher fee would disincentivize this practice, making the program more competitive and valuable. * Boosts U.S. Competitiveness: By cementing its position as the premier destination for elite global talent, the U.S. could accelerate its technological innovation and economic growth. How India and Other Countries are Affected This policy would likely have a significant impact on India and other nations that are major sources of H-1B applicants: * Hurts Indian IT Outsourcing Firms: The biggest impact would be on India-based IT firms like Infosys and TCS that rely heavily on the H-1B program for a large portion of their U.S. workforce. The $100,000 fee would make their business model economically unfeasible, forcing them to either change their strategies or lose their market share. * Accelerates "Brain Drain": While some Indian professionals would still benefit from getting hired by U.S. tech firms, the policy could intensify the "brain drain" from India. The most skilled professionals would have an even greater incentive to leave for the U.S., while those who are not at the elite level may find it much more difficult to get a visa. Other countries that send a large number of professionals to the U.S. would also face a similar challenge in retaining their talent. * Shifts the Playing Field: This change would fundamentally alter the H-1B program, favoring major U.S. corporations over the high-volume staffing model of Indian IT firms. This could lead to a less diverse talent pool in the U.S. and limit opportunities for professionals who do not have elite-level skills or who are seeking to gain experience in the U.S. through IT consulting.

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The March 2026 Visa Bulletin is out… and yes, you’re seeing it right. Rest of World countries are CURRENT for EB-1 and EB-2. And it gets better 👇 USCIS has confirmed that for March, all employment-based categories must use the Dates for Filing (Table B) chart. That’s huge. This opens the door for many professionals who’ve been waiting to finally move forward with Adjustment of Status. March could be a big month. If you’re EB-2 NIW or EB-1 ROW, now is the time to review your filing strategy. 🚀 Complete video: https://lnkd.in/ekNcNZMp #VisaBulletin #USAVISA #NIW #EB2 #EB1A

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Our own EVP, Chief Scientist & Head of Enterprise AI Prem Natarajan recently spoke to TechTarget about Capital One’s partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF), which will help launch five new National AI Research Institutes to drive breakthroughs in high-impact areas across society like material and computational sciences, economics, and mental health. https://bit.ly/46fLI5I

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🚨 U.S. announces $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas This move will directly impact India, as we account for the majority of H-1B holders: 📌 71% of H-1B visas are held by Indians (~207,000 approvals in FY2023) 📌 Median wage for new H-1B holders is $97,000 – the new fee is actually higher than many annual salaries 📌 U.S. employers, especially in tech, will face huge costs, meaning fewer job offers and renewals 📌 Indian IT & tech firms, which depend heavily on H-1B mobility, will feel the pressure 💡 Context: India’s IT services exports are valued at $245+ billion (FY2024), with the U.S. as the largest market. Any disruption in talent mobility risks impacting both professionals and India’s largest export industry. 🌍 What this means: Skilled Indians may increasingly explore Canada, Europe & other talent-hungry markets More professionals could also choose to stay in India, fueling growth in our domestic tech ecosystem Global talent flows and U.S.–India collaboration are at stake 👉 India’s response must be strategic: ✔ Strengthen domestic opportunities ✔ Negotiate fairer mobility agreements ✔ Accelerate programs like Startup India, Digital India & skilling initiatives 🔹 While this is a challenge, it could also be a turning point for India to position itself as a global talent hub, creating opportunities at home rather than losing them abroad. https://lnkd.in/dbskHHPH

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US businesses risk hefty tax bills as thousands of their H-1B workers remain stranded in India because of months-long visa interview delays, complicating remote work options.... https://lnkd.in/gUmYKmRG

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"The phrase "leader creates a leader who can create another leader" describes transformational leadership, emphasizing that true leadership isn't about followers but about multiplying influence by developing others, fostering empowerment, trust, mentorship, and independent thinking to build a sustainable legacy and a robust, adaptable organization" How true !! Only when a team member steps up to fill your shoes , you can concentrate on expanding the scope , taking on more responsibilities Leadership is not about feeling insecure , its about feeling confident to move ahead by building a legacy One of the trainer put it so well When u are in a critical meeting , when you are on PTO , When you are in training - how many times your phone rings for permission , or direction is an index of how you have nurtured future leaders in your team and of course "The more it rings the lesser you have invested in future leaders"

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Proud to share the partnership between #Citizens and #UStrive #CitizensColleague Proud to share that Citizens has partnered with UStrive.org to expand access to mentorship and support students as they navigate college and career pathways. 👏 Through this partnership, colleagues can help make a meaningful impact by sharing skills, experience and guidance beyond our walls. Learn more about the partnership: https://spr.ly/6046he6f4 #CitizensColleague

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