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H-1B RFE (Request for Evidence) Rates Are Climbing Under Trump

H-1B RFE (Request for Evidence) Rates Are Climbing Under Trump

If you’re a foreign national or employer navigating the U.S. immigration process, you’ve likely heard of the term RFE, short for Request for Evidence. In 2025, RFEs are more than just a minor inconvenience — they’ve become a major checkpoint in the immigration journey, particularly for employment-based visas like the H-1B.


A Complete Guide to the H-1B Amendment Process: When and How to File

A Complete Guide to the H-1B Amendment Process: When and How to File

The H-1B visa program is highly regulated, with specific rules on maintaining employment terms that align with the original visa petition. When significant changes, known as "material changes," occur in an H-1B employee's job, such as relocation, a shift in responsibilities, or a promotion, an amendment may be required to ensure compliance with U.S. immigration law. This guide will explore the scenarios where an H-1B amendment is necessary, how to file one, and why timely updates are critical for maintaining lawful status.


Ultimate H-1B Visa Timeline Guide 2025-26: Step-by-Step Process and Key Deadlines

Ultimate H-1B Visa Timeline Guide 2025-26: Step-by-Step Process and Key Deadlines

The H-1B visa allows foreign nationals to work in specialized fields in the United States, such as IT, finance, engineering, and health care. This visa requires both meticulous planning and adherence to strict timelines, as applications must be submitted within defined windows and are subject to a lottery system due to high demand.


Applying for an H-1B Visa Extension: Step-by-Step Procedures & Costs

Applying for an H-1B Visa Extension: Step-by-Step Procedures & Costs

The H-1B visa, central to the U.S. employment visa system, allows professionals in specialized fields to work in the United States for up to six years in two three-year terms. However, many visa holders seek extensions beyond this timeframe, especially if they are in the process of securing a green card. In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about H-1B visa extensions, eligibility requirements, processes, fees, and the best strategies for a smooth extension process.


H-1B Filing Fees: A Complete Guide for 2025

H-1B Filing Fees: A Complete Guide for 2025

The H-1B visa program is a critical pathway for skilled foreign professionals to work in the United States. Understanding the filing fees involved is crucial, as the costs vary based on the employer’s size, structure, and specific requirements. Here’s a thorough breakdown of the costs and considerations for H-1B visa filings in 2025.


Cap-Exempt H-1B Visa: A Comprehensive Guide

Cap-Exempt H-1B Visa: A Comprehensive Guide

For foreign nationals aiming to work in the U.S., the H-1B visa is a popular but highly competitive option, particularly due to the annual cap that limits the number of new visas available each year. The cap-exempt H-1B visa offers a valuable alternative, without needing to go through the lottery process and opening the door to year-round employment for certain organizations and roles.


Navigating Immigration Campus Concerns Under Trump: A Brief for University Administrators

Navigating Immigration Campus Concerns Under Trump: A Brief for University Administrators

Immigration policies under the Trump administration will pose significant challenges for universities in supporting international and undocumented students, faculty, and staff. To help universities navigate this, the American Council on Education’s (ACE) has prepared a new issue brief which provides guidance for navigating this evolving immigration landscape. The brief examines policy changes such as stricter visa rules, increased border scrutiny, and potential threats to programs like DACA and TPS, highlighting their impact on campus communities.


H-1B Modernization: Biden's Closing Act and Trump's Opening Challenge

H-1B Modernization: Biden's Closing Act and Trump's Opening Challenge

Weeks before the Trump Administration is set to take over in Washington, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized a rule to modernize the H-1B visa program, making significant changes that benefit international students, foreign nationals, employers, and the U.S. economy. This updated rule, set to take effect on January 17, 2025, brings new flexibilities and efficiencies while strengthening program integrity. Here's a closer look at how this rule will impact key stakeholders.


Day 1 CPT: Benefits, Risks, and Alternatives for International Students

Day 1 CPT: Benefits, Risks, and Alternatives for International Students

Day 1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a unique work authorization for F-1 international students in the United States, allowing them to start working in positions related to their field of study from the very first day of their academic program. Unlike traditional CPT, which often requires students to wait until their second semester, Day 1 CPT allows students to start working from the beginning of their academic program. This option is available in select U.S. graduate programs, often in fields like business or technology, where hands-on experience is especially valuable.


How to Find the Right H-1B Visa Lawyer: A Complete 15-Factor Checklist

How to Find the Right H-1B Visa Lawyer: A Complete 15-Factor Checklist

Securing an H-1B visa to work in the United States is a complex process, with rigorous application requirements, tight quotas, and evolving immigration policies. An immigration attorney offers a distinct advantage by providing expert guidance on each phase of the application, from eligibility assessment to petition preparation and even managing requests for evidence (RFEs). By understanding the importance of legal representation and knowing how to find the right immigration lawyer, you can significantly improve your chances of successfully obtaining an H-1B visa.


Understanding Concurrent H-1B Visas: Expanding Opportunities Through Multiple H-1Bs

Understanding Concurrent H-1B Visas: Expanding Opportunities Through Multiple H-1Bs

The H-1B visa is a cornerstone of employment-based immigration in the United States. However, its lottery-driven cap often leaves qualified foreign professionals and their employers searching for alternatives to help them stay in the U.S and continue building their careers.


H-1B Lottery Fiscal Year 2026: Key Updates, Insights, and Next Steps

H-1B Lottery Fiscal Year 2026: Key Updates, Insights, and Next Steps

The H-1B lottery for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 will offer new opportunities for thousands of hopeful foreign nationals and their employers vying for one of the 85,000 available visa slots. Here’s everything you need to know about the anticipated lottery process, critical insights from previous years, key steps to improve your chances of being selected, and alternative options if you are not selected.


H-1B Premium Processing Fee: A Complete Guide to Costs, Benefits, and Alternatives in 2024

H-1B Premium Processing Fee: A Complete Guide to Costs, Benefits, and Alternatives in 2024

The H-1B visa is one of the most sought-after visas for foreign professionals looking to work in the United States, especially in specialized fields like technology, engineering, and healthcare. However, the visa application process can be lengthy and complex. To address this, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offers a Premium Processing Service to speed up the adjudication time for H-1B petitions.


Mastering the H-1B Visa: A Comprehensive Guide

Mastering the H-1B Visa: A Comprehensive Guide

For foreign nationals looking to work in the United States, the H-1B visa is a valuable pathway. This visa allows qualified professionals to work in specialized fields, filling crucial skills gaps in the U.S. However, the path to an H-1B visa is highly competitive due to a strict numerical limitation (the “H-1B cap”) and a complex petition process. In this guide, we cover the essentials, from eligibility and application steps to navigating employment transitions and alternatives if you’re not selected in the annual H-1B lottery. Finally, we’ll introduce how The Build Fellowship’s innovative cap-exempt solution can help you continue your career in the U.S.


The U.S. 2024 Election Results: Implications for Immigration Policy and Skilled Foreign Talent

The U.S. 2024 Election Results: Implications for Immigration Policy and Skilled Foreign Talent

The 2024 U.S. election results may lead to significant changes that will affect skilled foreign workers, companies, law firms, and international students. The new Trump administration might continue or intensify previous restrictive measures such as travel bans, tightened H-1B visa criteria, and increased consular scrutiny.


U.S. Immigration Post-2024 Election: A Complex Web of Challenges and Opportunities

U.S. Immigration Post-2024 Election: A Complex Web of Challenges and Opportunities

As the 2024 elections approach, the stakes for U.S. immigration policy have never been higher. Immigration has long been a topic of heated political discourse, often making headlines as both major parties outline their contrasting visions. But what does it really mean when there is a shift in the executive administration? How does this political discourse translate into tangible impacts on the lives of immigrants and the U.S. economy?


Navigating Immigration Policies Under Biden's Presidency

Navigating Immigration Policies Under Biden's Presidency

Since Joe Biden took office in January 2021, his administration has charted a new course for U.S. immigration policies, reflecting a departure from the Trump administration's restrictive measures. Biden’s approach aims to balance national security with humanitarian considerations, and this is particularly evident in the realm of employment-based visas, especially the H-1B visa program.


Empowering Global Talent to Live and Work in the U.S.

Empowering Global Talent to Live and Work in the U.S.

The United States immigration framework is layered and complex. Many would argue that it is problematic, but again, the purpose of this article is not to lodge complaints with USCIS or stir-up a revolution against the Code of Federal Regulations. Rather, what emerges from these remarkably dense and painstakingly granular legal regulations are the core ingredients that compose a novel immigration pathway for global talent.


 STEM: The Beating Heart of the U.S. Innovation Economy

STEM: The Beating Heart of the U.S. Innovation Economy

Overall, increasing the size of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce has been a key strategy to maintain the economic competitiveness and growth of the U.S. economy. STEM workers maintain specialized skills that support research and development activities, increasing the productivity of all workers in the economy. As emphasized above, the GEIR model plugs directly into this core demographic, and sets the stage for what can be accomplished through a fully compliant H-1B cap exempt immigration solution.


A Deep Dive into the Legal Foundation of H-1B Cap Exemptions: A Detailed Legal Analysis

A Deep Dive into the Legal Foundation of H-1B Cap Exemptions: A Detailed Legal Analysis

There are roughly 319 pages (over 110,000 words) in 8 § CFR 214.2 'Special requirements for admission, extension, and maintenance of status' – a section within a larger 'Subchapter B - Immigration Regulations' outlined in an even more grandiose Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) totaling nearly 186,000 pages.


How The Build Fellowship Offers a New Avenue for Foreign National Entrepreneurs

How The Build Fellowship Offers a New Avenue for Foreign National Entrepreneurs

Navigating the U.S. economic landscape as a foreign national can often seem daunting, particularly for those encountering the complexities of the H-1B visa lottery system. The Build Fellowship presents an innovative path, empowering global innovators to bring their entrepreneurial vision to the U.S. This article explores the significant contributions of foreign national entrepreneurs to the U.S. economy and details how The Build Fellowship provides vital support to these individuals.


 How Global Talent Migration and Innovative Visa Solutions Shape Economic Prosperity

How Global Talent Migration and Innovative Visa Solutions Shape Economic Prosperity

The race to attract global talent is ultra-competitive and ever-shifting. Employers across the globe continuously compete to find and retain top-tier talent in order to fill internal hiring needs. Industries and professional sectors are borne from, and dedicated solely for this purpose. According to an industry report by IBIS, the market size, measured by revenue, of the Global HR & Recruitment Services industry in 2023 was $868.8bn.


Cap-Exempt H-1B Solution for Top Talent

Cap-Exempt H-1B Solution for Top Talent

Fellows are employed in part-time roles to prepare college and university students for careers. U.S. companies can then employ Fellows full-time on concurrent H-1Bs immediately, at any time of year.


Benefactor guide

Benefactor guide

The Build Fellowship offers a cap-exempt H-1B visasolution with a 99% acceptance rate, allowing foreign national talent to pursue careers in the fastest-growing industries across the United States. If you are a foreign national who wants to work or continue working in the U.S., securing your visa is a top priority — The Build Fellowship is here to help.


The Build Fellowship pricing model

The Build Fellowship pricing model

Company pays Build $4000 per month


Information for International Students Entering the Job Market

Information for International Students Entering the Job Market

OPT (Optional Practical Training):


The Build Fellowship qualifications & sponsorship

The Build Fellowship qualifications & sponsorship

A Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in a specialized field.


International Student Offices: Immigration Solutions for Build Fellows

International Student Offices: Immigration Solutions for Build Fellows

International student departments work with The Build Fellowship to educate students about this option post-graduation.


Become a university partner

Become a university partner

The Build Fellowship is a national network of Fellowship programs offered to foreign national innovators, experts, and entrepreneurs committed to shaping the future of the United States.


Become a Build Fellowship partner school

Become a Build Fellowship partner school

The Build Fellowship is a national network of Fellowship programs offered to foreign national innovators, experts, and entrepreneurs committed to shaping the future of the United States.


The Build Fellowship Overview

The Build Fellowship Overview

U.S. immigration law firms face complex challenges to provide comprehensive solutions for their clients, particularly those who might not easily fit into standard categories for visas or employment-based sponsorship.


Become a Build Fellowship immigration law partner

Become a Build Fellowship immigration law partner

U.S. immigration law firms face complex challenges to provide comprehensive solutions for their clients, particularly those who might not easily fit into standard categories for visas or employment-based sponsorship.


The Build Fellowship overview: eligibility & commitment

The Build Fellowship overview: eligibility & commitment

A Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in a specialized field.


The Build Fellowship first steps

The Build Fellowship first steps

The Build Fellowship welcomes applications from foreign national innovators, experts, and entrepreneurs seeking immigration solutions for U.S. employment.


Information for foreign national candidates

Information for foreign national candidates

The demand for H-1B visas rises each year. Yet, the odds of being selected for the H-1B lottery are less than 25%. The Build Fellowship offers a cap-exempt H-1B visa solution with a 99% acceptance rate, allowing foreign national talent – like yourself – to pursue careers in the fastest-growing industries across the U.S.


Become a Build Fellowship nonprofit partner

Become a Build Fellowship nonprofit partner

The demand for H-1B visas rises each year. Yet, the odds of a foreign national being selected by the annual H-1B visa lottery is less than 25%.


Cap exempt H-1B visa sponsorship & how to talk with your benefactor

Cap exempt H-1B visa sponsorship & how to talk with your benefactor

The Build Fellowship offers a cap-exempt H-1B visa solution with a 99% acceptance rate, allowing foreign national talent to pursue careers in the fastest-growing industries across the United States.


Application to acceptance timeline

Application to acceptance timeline


The Build Fellowship & nonprofit relationship

The Build Fellowship & nonprofit relationship

Every organization that The Build Fellowship partners with will have its own mission and programmatic goals.


The Build Fellowship for nonprofits

The Build Fellowship for nonprofits

The demand for H-1B visas rises each year. Yet, the odds of a foreign national being selected by the annual H-1B visa lottery is less than 25%.


Information for foreign nationals candidates

Information for foreign nationals candidates

The demand for H-1B visas rises each year. Yet, the odds of being selected for the H-1B lottery are less than 25%. The Build Fellowship offers a cap-exempt H-1B visa solution with a 99% acceptance rate, allowing foreign national talent –like yourself – to pursue careers in the fastest-growing industries across the U.S.


Individual benefactor sample email

Individual benefactor sample email

Dear NAME OF INDIVIDUAL BENEFACTOR,


How do I talk to an individual benefactor about funding my Fellowship?

How do I talk to an individual benefactor about funding my Fellowship?

Key points to keep in mind


Employee benefactor sample emails

Employee benefactor sample emails

Dear EMPLOYER NAME,


The Build cap-exempt H-1B visa sponsorship

The Build cap-exempt H-1B visa sponsorship

The Build Fellowship offers a cap-exempt H-1B visa solution with a 99% acceptance rate, allowing foreign national talent to pursue careers in the fastest-growing industries across the United States.


About The Build Fellowship

About The Build Fellowship

U.S. companies in the fastest-growing industries need access to specialized talent to maintain a competitive edge. Yet the odds of a foreign national being accepted by the annual H-1B visa lottery are less than 25%.


Testimonials

Testimonials


Information for companies looking to sponsor their global talent

Information for companies looking to sponsor their global talent

U.S. companies in the fastest-growing industries need access to specialized talent to maintain a competitive edge. Yet the odds of a foreign national being accepted by the annual H-1B visa lottery are less than 25%.


How do I talk to my employer about funding my Fellowship?

How do I talk to my employer about funding my Fellowship?

Key points to keep in mind


Live Information Session: Cap-exempt H-1B Solutions for Global Talent -1

Live Information Session: Cap-exempt H-1B Solutions for Global Talent -1

If you're a foreign national or employer looking for visa solutions, join Danielle Goldman of The Build Fellowship for an informative webinar and live Q&A.‍


Live Information Session: Cap-exempt H-1B Solutions for Global Talent -2

Live Information Session: Cap-exempt H-1B Solutions for Global Talent -2

If you're a foreign national or employer looking for visa solutions following this year's lottery, join Danielle Goldman of The Build Fellowship for an informative webinar and live Q&A.



Live Information Session: Cap-exempt H-1B Solutions for Global Talent -3

Live Information Session: Cap-exempt H-1B Solutions for Global Talent -3

If you're a foreign national or employer looking for visa solutions following this year's lottery, join Danielle Goldman of The Build Fellowship for an informative webinar and live Q&A.


Live Information Session: Cap-exempt H-1B Solutions for Global Talent -4

Live Information Session: Cap-exempt H-1B Solutions for Global Talent -4

If you're a foreign national or employer looking for visa solutions following this year's lottery, join Danielle Goldman of The Build Fellowship for an informative webinar and live Q&A.


Live Information Session: Cap-exempt H-1B Solutions for Global Talent -5

Live Information Session: Cap-exempt H-1B Solutions for Global Talent -5

If you're a foreign national or employer looking for visa solutions following this year's lottery, join Danielle Goldman of The Build Fellowship for an informative webinar and live Q&A.


Bridge Builders: How Legal Experts & Entrepreneurs Are Shaping U.S. Immigration

Bridge Builders: How Legal Experts & Entrepreneurs Are Shaping U.S. Immigration

If you're an immigration attorney, foreign national or an employer looking to grow your business in the U.S. there is a chance you have dealt with the U.S. immigration system. Navigating immigration can be a long, windy road, but there are solutions that make your journey less stressful!


Live Information Session: Cap-exempt H-1B Solutions for Global Talent -6

Live Information Session: Cap-exempt H-1B Solutions for Global Talent -6

If you're a foreign national or employer looking for visa solutions following this year's lottery, join Danielle Goldman of The Build Fellowship for an informative webinar and live Q&A.


Live Information Session: Cap-exempt H-1B Solutions for Global Talent-7

Live Information Session: Cap-exempt H-1B Solutions for Global Talent-7

If you're a foreign national or employer looking for visa solutions following this year's lottery, join Danielle Goldman of The Build Fellowship for an informative webinar and live Q&A.


Immigration Solutions for Global Talent: An Expert Discussion with Industry Leaders

Immigration Solutions for Global Talent: An Expert Discussion with Industry Leaders

Join us via Zoom on May 14th at 5:00 pm ET to hear from Varun Negandhi, Soundarya Balasubramani, and Danielle Goldman.



Immigration Solutions for Global Talent -2

Immigration Solutions for Global Talent -2

If you're global talent or a foreign national employer disappointed with the recent H-1B lottery results, join us today for Immigration Solutions for Global Talent.


Not Selected in the H-1B Lottery?: Next Steps

Not Selected in the H-1B Lottery?: Next Steps

If you or your candidate does NOT get chosen, what happens next? How do you prepare properly for the H-1B petition filing? Join us to learn how to be prepared for the H-1B lottery after selection. We encourage all of our selected clients to attend, and everyone is welcome!


The H-1B Lottery: What To Do If You Were Not Selected

The H-1B Lottery: What To Do If You Were Not Selected

If you’re an employer or foreign national looking to prepare for the upcoming lottery, join Danielle Goldman, CEO and Co-founder of The Build Fellowship and for an informative webinar on what to expect from FY24’s H-1B lottery season this year.


On Thursday April 4th at 5 pm ET, join us live for a webinar where we'll discuss:

  • What to do if you or your employee don’t get selected for the H-1B lottery
  • Cap-exempt H-1B pathways for employment as an alternative path to stay and work in the U.S

We know that the lottery selections is uncertain, and often stressful. We hope that this webinar will answer questions and offer solutions. It will certainly be the first of many information sessions we extend to our community.


The H-1B Lottery: How to Offer Your Employees a Back-Up Plan

The H-1B Lottery: How to Offer Your Employees a Back-Up Plan

The H-1B visa lottery closed yesterday. Do you have a back up plan if your employee (or you) wasn't selected? Join us on Thursday, March 28 at 5 pm ET for a live webinar where we'll discuss:

  • What to do if your employees (or you) don’t get selected for the H-1B lottery
  • Cap-exempt H-1B pathways for employment as an alternative path to allow talent to stay and work in the U.S
We know that the lottery selections are uncertain and often stressful. We hope that this webinar will answer questions and offer solutions so you can retain your top talent.


The H-1B Lottery: How to Offer Your Clients a Backup Plan

The H-1B Lottery: How to Offer Your Clients a Backup Plan

If you’re an immigration attorney looking to prepare your clients for the upcoming lottery, join Danielle Goldman, CEO and Co-founder of The Build Fellowship and Jeff Goldman, Founder of immigration law firm Goldman & Partners Immigration Law for an informative webinar on what to do if your client is not selected in this year's H-1B lottery.

On Wednesday, March 13th at 5 pm ET, join us live for a webinar where we'll discuss:

  • Understanding H-1B Rule Changes for 2024
  • What to Do If Your Client Misses the H-1B Lottery
  • Exploring Cap-Exempt H-1B Pathways for Your Clients