Insights
Plain-English analysis of U.S. work-visa policy and wages.
- DataAugust 2026 issue
H-1B Barometer, August 2026: Back to Cold at 42 - On Two of Four Signals
The VisaSalaries H-1B Barometer reads 42/100 (Cold) for August 2026, down 21 from July - on two of four components. The Visa Bulletin's average EB-2/EB-3 movement slowed to about +10 days/month, while PERM processing time and tech hiring publish on a lag. A measurement of current conditions, not a prediction.
- Data
18 Years of Priority-Date History: How Far Behind Is Each Green-Card Line?
We measured every employment-based Final Action date the State Department has published since January 2008 - 219 monthly bulletins - and turned them into one honest metric: how many years in the past each line's cutoff sits. EB-3 India once fell 15.7 years behind; EB-2 India hit its deepest backlog on record in June 2026 and then went Unavailable. The full 18-year story, with the record book.
- DataAugust 2026 issue
Visa Bulletin August 2026: EB-2 India Stays Unavailable, EB-3 Worldwide +31 Days
The August 2026 Visa Bulletin in detail: EB-2 India stays Unavailable, EB-3 worldwide advances 31 days, EB-3 China adds 10, and EB-1 China moves up 30. Every Final Action cell measured from the published bulletin - no predictions.
- Data
Does H-1B Salary Include Stock and Bonus? What LCA Wage Data Shows — and What It Leaves Out
No — the H-1B salary in DOL LCA data is the guaranteed base wage only. RSUs, bonuses, and sign-on pay are not included, which is why a tech worker's real offer can run well above the filed number. Here is how to read LCA wages correctly.
- DataJuly 2026 issue
Visa Bulletin July 2026: EB-2 India Unavailable, EB-3 China +143 Days
The July 2026 Visa Bulletin in detail: EB-2 India goes Unavailable, EB-1 India retreats 61 days, EB-3 China jumps 143 days, and EB-3 worldwide advances 61. Every Final Action cell measured from the published bulletin - no predictions.
- DataJuly 2026 issue
H-1B Barometer, July 2026: A Warm 63 - On Two of Four Signals
The VisaSalaries H-1B Barometer reads 63/100 (Warm) for July 2026, up from June - but on only two of four components. A strong Visa Bulletin advance does most of the lifting, while PERM processing time and tech hiring sit out on a lag. A measurement of current conditions, not a prediction.
- DataJune 2026 issue
H-1B Barometer, June 2026: A Cold 33 - The Series' First Issue
The VisaSalaries H-1B Barometer read 33/100 (Cold) for June 2026, on two of four components, with a Visa Bulletin retreat doing most of the pulling. Published retroactively in July 2026 as the series' first issue. A measurement of current conditions, not a prediction.
- Policy
H-1B Wage Levels Explained: What Level I-IV Means and Why It Decides Your FY2027 Lottery Odds
DOL sets every H-1B job's prevailing wage at four levels, from Level I (entry) to Level IV (highest). Here's what each level means, how the four floors are calculated, and why - starting with FY2027 - your wage level is also the number of entries your registration gets in the lottery.
- Policy
The $100,000 H-1B Fee, Struck Down — For Now: What the June 8 Ruling Changes (and What It Doesn't)
A federal judge vacated the $100,000 H-1B fee nationwide on June 8, 2026, calling it a tax only Congress can levy. The government is appealing, a June 12 stay has since reinstated the fee pending appeal, and the FY2027 weighted lottery is untouched. Here is what actually changes.
- Data
Same Job, Different Paycheck: H-1B Software Developer Salaries by City (2026)
The same software developer job pays a median $191,700 in San Francisco and $107,700 in Irving, TX — an $84,000 gap. What H-1B software developers earn in the 10 biggest filing cities, and what city choice does to your wage level and FY2027 lottery entries.
- Policy
The New Weighted H-1B Lottery (FY2027): How Your Wage Level Now Decides Your Odds
For FY2027, DHS replaced the random H-1B lottery with a wage-weighted system. Here's exactly how the four wage levels change your selection odds — with a plain-English worked example and the FY2027 timeline.
- Data
The 25 Highest-Paying H-1B Employers — 2026 Ranking
We ranked the highest-paying H-1B sponsors by median disclosed salary, among employers with 1,000+ filings. Airbnb, NVIDIA and TikTok lead — and the biggest sponsor by volume isn't even close.