TFH Transformations LLC releases guide on $100,000 H-1B payment policy and wage-weighted lottery. Resource clarifies eligibility, compliance requirements, and strategic implications for employers sponsoring H-1B visas under new regulations effective 2025-2026.
-- TFH Transformations LLC has released a guide addressing two regulatory shifts reshaping H-1B visa sponsorship: a $100,000 payment requirement that took effect September 21, 2025, and a wage-weighted cap lottery launching February 27, 2026. The resource clarifies what each policy mandates, who falls under its scope, and how employers should adjust operational and compliance strategies in response to both changes.
More information is available at https://www.careerproguider.com/
As of late February 2026, approximately 70 employers have paid the $100,000 H-1B fee since its introduction, while multiple lawsuits challenge the policy's validity, according to court filings and news reports. This low adoption rate and ongoing litigation create uncertainty for planning cycles and compliance timelines. The wage-weighted lottery reshapes selection odds by assigning Level IV wage positions four entries, Level III positions three entries, Level II positions two entries, and Level 1 positions one entry, adding a second strategic dimension employers must manage when designing compensation packages and hiring plans.
The $100,000 payment applies to new H-1B petitions filed for beneficiaries outside the United States who do not hold a valid H-1B visa. Extensions, amendments, or change-of-employer petitions for individuals already in the country are generally excluded. This is not a salary requirement and is not an annual fee—it is a one-time employer payment tied to entry restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 10973. National-interest exceptions exist but remain discretionary, and their criteria are not fully detailed in primary sources, creating uncertainty for employers seeking relief. The White House FAQ clarified that the policy does not apply to previously issued H-1B visas or prevent current holders from traveling.
Effective February 27, 2026, the H-1B cap lottery shifts from random selection to wage-weighted selection, giving higher-wage beneficiaries better odds without changing the statutory cap itself—65,000 general slots plus 20,000 advanced-degree exemptions. Employers now have a financial and strategic incentive to offer higher wages to improve lottery odds, making wage strategy and talent competition inseparable from immigration planning. The FY 2027 cap registration window opens March 4 and closes March 19, 2026, immediately after the rule takes effect, compressing the timeline for employers to finalize compensation decisions and registration strategies.
Project Firewall, a U.S. Department of Labor enforcement initiative launched September 19, 2025, has initiated at least 175 investigations and assessed $15 million in back wages as of November 2025. The initiative emphasizes investigations, inter-agency coordination, and penalties targeting displacement, inadequate U.S. worker recruitment, misclassification of job roles or wage levels, and retaliation. Wage-weighted selection creates documentation risks, as employers face incentives to misclassify jobs into lower-wage categories or manipulate prevailing-wage documentation. Employers must ensure Labor Condition Application accuracy, proper wage-level assignment, consistent worksite documentation, and worker protections—including no cost-shifting to employees and no deductions below required wages—as a compliance-first necessity.
TFH Transformations' guide provides step-by-step clarity on who is subject to the $100,000 payment and how to document compliance; how wage-weighted selection affects hiring strategy and wage planning; the full fee stack employers must budget, including registration, Form I-129, asylum program fees, ACWIA, fraud fees, premium processing, and the $100,000 payment if applicable; Project Firewall audit-readiness and Labor Condition Application or wage documentation best practices; and myth-busting FAQs addressing common misconceptions such as whether the payment is a salary floor, whether it is annual, and whether it applies to current H-1B holders traveling. The guide translates regulatory language into actionable employer steps and clarifies scope boundaries so employers avoid over-compliance or under-compliance.
For more details, visit https://careerproguider.com
Contact Info:
Name: Troy Heiner
Email: Send Email
Organization: TFH Transformations LLC
Address: 7901 4th Street North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33702, United States
Website: https://careerproguider.com
Source: PressCable
Release ID: 89184621
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