🇺🇸 Petition Workshop This Week. Get Real-Time Feedback.

🎰 Picture this: thousands of hopefuls clutching their H-1B applications, but now it's not about luck, it's about who can flash the biggest salary number! While everyone's frantically inflating their offers, there's a whole other game happening where your brilliance matters more than your bank account. America Unlocked reveals the strategies that don't require you to mortgage your future! 💡✨

Your Game Plan 🎯

1. 🇺🇸 In the News: H-1B Lottery Becomes Salary Competition

2. 📖 Self-sponsored Visa Know-How: How to Prove National Importance in NIW?

3. ☕ Community Tea Party: 📣 EB-2 NIW Exhibit Strategy! 📣 Final Call: Live Petition Workshop with Attorneys This Thursday. ⏰ 📣 Real-Time Letter Feedback.

Let’s win your visa jackpot! 🎲

The Trump administration is gearing up to ditch the H-1B visa lottery and replace it with a salary-based selection system. 💰🎯 The Office of Management and Budget is reviewing the proposed rule right now, which could drop within weeks and completely flip how America picks its 85,000 temporary skilled workers each year.

Here's how it would work. Instead of random selection when applications flood past the 85,000 annual limit, USCIS would rank petitions by salary from highest to lowest, starting with Level 4 wages and working down. The rule title hints at a "weighted selection process," which might mean higher-paid workers get multiple lottery tickets instead of pure salary ranking. 📊

The math isn't pretty for new grads. Under Trump's original proposal, nobody earning Level 1 wages would get picked, and only about half of Level 2 workers would make it through. Since roughly 90% of fresh international students start at Level 1 or Level 2 salaries, recent graduates would face seriously tough odds. With over 343,000 people registering for FY 2026, it's going to be a salary arms race. 📈

Expect courtroom drama. Immigration lawyers are already sharpening their arguments that Congress specifically said H-1B petitions "shall" be considered "in filing order," making salary-based picking potentially illegal without new laws. If it survives legal battles, this could kick in by March 2026. For international talent, this makes O-1 visas and permanent residence applications look way more attractive than betting on H-1B odds. 🚀

Source: Forbes.com

How to Prove National Importance in Your EB-2 NIW Petition 🇺🇸

Struggling to prove your work serves America's national interest? This is where many talented professionals get stuck, but with the right evidence sources, you can build a compelling case!

🔍 Your Evidence Goldmine

Government Documents (The Heavy Hitters):

• Congress.gov for recent bills or resolutions supporting your work

• WhiteHouse.gov for presidential speeches and executive orders. These carry the most weight because they show the U.S. actively prioritizes issues your work addresses!

Peer-Reviewed Literature:

Search Google Scholar for articles aligning with your field. While less weighty than government sources, credible research showing your work's significance strengthens your petition.

Official Occupational Data:

Use O*NET Online (Department of Labor-sponsored) for employment projections and industry trends. Shows how your expertise fits U.S. priorities.

⚠️ Warning: Don't argue labor shortages! USCIS doesn't find this compelling for national importance.

📝 How to Structure Your Argument

1. Proposed Endeavor Statement: One to two paragraphs describing exactly what you'll do and why it matters

2. National Importance: Break into sections, explain the U.S. problem your work solves, reference supporting laws/initiatives

3. Substantial Merit: Keep brief, reaffirm your work's significance

4. Conclusion: Summarize broader impact and contribution to U.S. goals

💡 Pro Tips

Focus on YOUR specific endeavor, not just your field's importance. Always tie back to U.S. government priorities like economic development, public health, or national security.

The more specific and impactful your proposed endeavor, the stronger your case! 🚀✨

📣 How to Organize Evidence That Actually Convinces Officers!

Think exhibits are just document dumps? Our EB-2 NIW Course Lesson 12 reveals they're the backbone of your petition, the proof behind every claim you make!

🔥 The game-changing insight? Never reference external links because USCIS officers won't visit websites. Plus, the critical rule: highlight key sections in long documents since officers need to find relevant information quickly during their limited review time. 💡

Access this essential lesson in our EB-2 NIW Course.

📣 Attorney-Supported Strategy Session Almost Here!

Thursday's attorney-supported Idea Lab is almost here! Members will tackle burning questions, get clarity, and brainstorm next steps with immigration experts Ayushi and Jimmy from Lai & Turner, providing live guidance! 🔥 

This grounding session helps members check in on progress, reflect on achievements, and strategize together. No pressure to have everything figured out, the goal is clarity and support from both community and professional experts! 💡

📣 Watch Letters Transform From Good to Game-Changing!

Members are sharing draft recommendation letters for community review and receiving detailed expert feedback!

Katarzyna's letter got a comprehensive analysis covering everything from formatting to evidence planning. 🔥

Key insights revealed: remove USCIS addresses, avoid visa-specific language for universality, add international collaborations for the U.S. context, and plan evidence to back every claim. Plus, timing strategies for signatures. 💡This collaborative approach transforms good letters into powerful petition components.

The feedback even inspired new resources: a bullet-pointed Killer Tips list for recommendation letters coming up! ✨

🤳 Immigration Insights from LinkedIn: