🎃 Spooky Season Meets Immigration Season! 🕸️
The only thing scarier than a haunted house this October? The current immigration climate!
But fear not—our newsletter is here with all the treats (and zero tricks) you need to navigate the spooky world of corporate immigration.
Here's what's in our cauldron this month:
Three Trends in Immigration HR Leaders and Managers Need to Know About
✅ Compliance Spotlight: I-9 & E-Verify Are Under the Microscope and more RAIDS are coming
✅ Visa Uncertainty are Here to Stay – But So Are Options
✅ Key Changes to the H-1B Lottery (and the $100K Shock)
Compliance Spotlight: I-9 & E-Verify Are Under the Microscope
It's no secret — I-9 and E-Verify enforcement is heating up.
More raids and audits are on the horizon, and HR leaders are already seeing the signs. The question isn't if you'll face scrutiny, but when.
The good news? A little preparation goes a long way in turning a scary disruption into a controlled process.
The first step is knowing the difference.
Read more: Compliance Spotlight: I-9 & E-Verify Are Under the Microscope – Marks Gray
Visa Uncertainty Is Here to Stay — But So Are Options
If it feels like the visa landscape is changing every time you refresh the news, you're not imagining it.
From new proclamations to evolving lottery rules to unpredictable consular processing delays, uncertainty has become the only certainty.
For HR teams, that can feel overwhelming — especially when business needs don't pause for shifting policies.
But here's the bright side: options exist and our clients are hiring and we're getting approvals for visas for needed foreign talent.
Read more: Visa Uncertainty Is Here to Stay — But So Are Options – Marks Gray
Key Changes to the H-1B Lottery (and the $100K Shock)
The White House has proposed a tiered, wage-weighted lottery for FY 2027 filings. Instead of every registration having the same odds, higher wages earn more entries:
- Wage Level IV → 4 entries
- Wage Level III → 3 entries
- Wage Level II → 2 entries
- Wage Level I → 1 entry
This could mean nearly a 50% drop in selection chances for Level I roles, while Level IV jobs may see odds more than double. The registration process and form will be revised for employers to declare wage level at registration, and petitions must match that level with supporting evidence.
Adding to the disruption is the new $100,000 fee for certain new H-1B petitions, expected to apply mainly to cases filed from abroad. This cost is not expected to affect extensions, employer transfers, or amendments — meaning employers retaining talent already in the U.S.
The silver lining?
Read more: Key Changes to the H-1B Lottery (and the $100K Shock) – Marks Gray
Pre-recorded Webinar: How to Prepare for 2026: Compliance and Immigration Strategies in a New Landscape.
📅 Wed, October 22
Join me for an interactive, pre-recorded session packed with timely insights and tools to help you navigate today's consular landscape:
The rules of immigration and compliance are shifting and 2026 will bring a new set of challenges and opportunities. In this on-demand webinar, I break down the strategies your business needs now to stay compliant, competitive, and ready for what's ahead.
Register today to unlock the session and gain on-demand access so you can watch at your convenience!
📅 Events this Month
Join me and be part of the dialogue. Together, we can help shape the next chapter of corporate immigration
➡️ Oct 9 at 2:20pm EST Go SHRM Orlando (IN-PERSON)
Register here!
➡️ Oct 15 at 2:00pm EST HR Corporate Immigration Roundtable (VIRTUAL)
Reply to this email to RSVP!
I am honored to be a Latina and to work alongside a powerhouse team of Latina/o/e/x women. Together, we're driving impact and breaking barriers every day.
Learn more about our incredible team here.
Subscribe, share, and join the conversation.
Here's to crossing more finish lines—together. 🏁
Let's Keep Growing—Together 🌎✨
At Marks Gray, we're proud to support forward-thinking employers with trusted, responsive legal services that help teams thrive.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
