What You Missed In Immigration: Wage Hikes, Social Media Stalking, and the $100K Fee That Won't Budge

Milow LeBlanc
7 days ago
5 min read

DOL Drops a Bombshell: H-1B Wages Could Jump 30%+

The Department of Labor just proposed a major overhaul to how wages are calculated for H-1B and other employment-based visas, and the numbers are significant. Entry-level wages would leap from the 17th to the 34th percentile of local wage data, a jump of more than 30%. The rule also covers H-1B1, E-3, and yes, PERM cases. It would apply only to new filings, and employers have about 60 days to submit public comments before anything is finalized.

The PERM Takeaway: This is the headline employers need to circle in red. If finalized, the new wage floors will directly impact prevailing wage determinations for PERM filings, potentially pricing some positions into higher wage levels and reshaping how companies budget for sponsored roles. Employers should review their current and planned PERM cases immediately, model the financial impact of higher prevailing wages, and seriously consider submitting public comments during the open window. Waiting until this rule is final is not a strategy.

Big Brother Wants Your Handle: Social Media Vetting Expands

Starting March 30, the State Department will expand social media screening to additional nonimmigrant visa categories, including K-1 fiancé(e) visas, religious workers, trainees, domestic workers, and humanitarian categories like T and U visas. Applicants will need to make their social media accounts public for government review. The move follows earlier expansions that already covered student and H-1B applicants.

The PERM Takeaway: While social media vetting doesn't directly alter the PERM process, it adds another layer of scrutiny and processing time to the broader immigration pipeline. For employers sponsoring workers who may also hold or transition from affected visa categories, expect longer timelines and more documentation headaches. It's also a good reminder to counsel sponsored employees about maintaining a professional online presence, because the government is absolutely looking.

Green Card Sponsors: Here's Your New Income Floor for 2026

The minimum income required to sponsor a family member for a green card has been updated based on new federal poverty guidelines. For 2026, most sponsors need to earn at least $27,050 to support a household of two, with the threshold climbing for larger families. Sponsors who fall short can combine household income, bring on a joint sponsor, or count qualifying assets.

The PERM Takeaway: This update applies to family-based sponsorship, not employer-sponsored green cards. But it's a useful benchmark for employers to understand the financial landscape their sponsored workers are navigating on the personal side. Employees juggling both employer-sponsored PERM cases and family-based petitions may face added financial pressure, being aware of that helps employers support retention and overall workforce planning.

Congress Moves to Save OPT Before It's Too Late

A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the "Keep Innovators in America Act," a bill that would formally write the Optional Practical Training program into federal law. OPT currently allows international students on F-1 visas to work in the U.S. for up to 12 months after graduation, or up to three years for STEM graduates. The bill comes as the program faces legal challenges and policy uncertainty that could disrupt the pipeline of international talent entering the U.S. workforce.

The PERM Takeaway: OPT is the on-ramp. For many employers, it's where they first identify and develop the foreign talent they'll eventually sponsor through the PERM process. If OPT gets weakened or eliminated without legislative protection, the PERM pipeline shrinks, dramatically. Employers who rely on OPT-to-H-1B-to-PERM pathways should be paying close attention to this bill and advocating for its passage. No OPT means fewer candidates, longer searches, and higher recruitment costs down the line.

$100K H-1B Fee: National Interest Exemptions Are Getting Denied, All of Them

Immigration attorneys are reporting a wave of denials for national interest exemption requests tied to the $100,000 H-1B visa fee. According to AILA, denials started rolling in this week for applications submitted as far back as October, and they're arriving with nearly identical boilerplate language: the government will not grant broad or industry-wide exemptions, even for individual workers. The decisions are final with no avenue for appeal.

The PERM Takeaway: The exemption door appears to be firmly shut. Employers banking on a workaround to the $100K fee need to recalibrate immediately. This makes the PERM-to-green-card pathway even more critical as a long-term strategy, if the H-1B route is getting more expensive, locking in permanent residency through PERM becomes a stronger value proposition for both employers and employees. Factor the fee into your overall immigration budget and start those PERM conversations earlier in the sponsorship timeline.

America's Growth Engine Is Stalling, And Immigration Is the Reason

U.S. population growth has slowed to its lowest level since the pandemic, with net international migration dropping more than 50% between mid-2024 and mid-2025. The total population grew by just 1.8 million, and major cities that depend on immigration to offset domestic outflows are feeling the squeeze hardest. Economists warn that continued declines could drag on consumer spending, labor force participation, and long-term economic growth.

The PERM Takeaway: The macro picture is clear: fewer immigrants means fewer workers, and fewer workers means more competition for talent. For employers already in the PERM process, this data validates the investment, you're securing talent in a shrinking labor pool. For those on the fence about sponsoring foreign workers, the demographic trends should be the push you need. The labor shortage isn't going away; it's getting worse. Start your PERM filings now while you still have candidates to sponsor.

Across the Pond: U.K. Jacks Up Visa Fees Starting April

The UK Home Office announced fee increases across work, student, visitor, and settlement visa categories beginning April 8, 2026. Skilled Worker visas will rise by roughly £50–£100, Indefinite Leave to Remain jumps to £3,226, and the Electronic Travel Authorisation doubles to £20. Priority processing fees remain unchanged.

The PERM Takeaway: U.S. employers competing globally for talent should take note, immigration is getting more expensive everywhere, not just here. Rising U.K. fees may actually work in your favor if candidates start weighing cost-of-entry when deciding where to build their careers. Position your PERM sponsorship as a competitive advantage in the global talent market, because other countries are making it harder and pricier to get in the door too.

Malaysia Goes Digital: New One-Stop Platform for Expat Hiring

Malaysia launched the MIDA Expatriate System (MES), a new digital platform that consolidates expatriate hiring into a single streamlined process. From company registration to visa approvals, everything now lives under one login with one-time document submission and real-time tracking. The system replaces a fragmented, multi-agency process that had been a headache for employers.

The PERM Takeaway: Take notes, DOL. While the U.S. PERM process remains a paper-heavy, multi-step marathon, countries like Malaysia are modernizing and simplifying their work visa systems. For U.S. employers, this is another reminder that the global competition for talent isn't just about wages and opportunity, it's about how easy you make it to get through the door. Until the U.S. catches up on process efficiency, a well-run PERM strategy with an experienced ad agency is your best bet for staying competitive.

Have questions about how these developments impact your PERM cases? Reach out to our team, we keep our finger on the pulse so you don't have to.