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Your Golden Chance for H-1B Lottery Registration - March 2026

Client Alert

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will open initial H-1B registration at noon Eastern time on March 4, 2026, and will remain open through March 19, 2026.

$100,000 Fee Not Applicable to Change of Status H-1B Petitions:

If you already reside in the U.S. in a valid nonimmigrant status (F-1, F-2, H-4, J-1, O-1, O-2, TN, etc.), and your employer files an H-1B change of status petition, you will not be subject to the proposed $100,000 fee. This fee is intended to discourage certain overseas registrations/filings and is cost-prohibitive for employers to sponsor workers who do not reside in the U.S.

Further, the new H-1B rule of implementing a weighted selection process will generally favor the allocation of H-1B visas to higher-skilled and higher-paid employees, while maintaining the opportunity for employers to secure H-1B workers at all wage levels. This rule benefits physicians, engineers, and other skilled workers paid in Wage Levels 3 or 4 by increasing their chances of being selected in the H-1B lottery, in addition to advanced U.S. degree selections.

Why This is Significant for U.S.-Based Foreign Nonimmigrants:

If you are currently in the U.S. on F-1 OPT/STEM OPT or another valid nonimmigrant status, this year may offer:

  • Reduced financial barriers for employers sponsoring you.
  • Potentially higher selection probability (especially if you qualify for advanced degree or higher wage levels).

In short, if you legally reside in the U.S., this year is your golden chance of being selected in the H-1B lottery.

If you wish to submit employee names in the H-1B lottery, please contact BMD Member Duriya Dhinojwala at dd@bmdllc.com to discuss your options.  


Supreme Court Clears Path for TPS Terminations: What Employers Need to Know

The U.S. Supreme Court's June 25, 2026 decision in Mullin v. Doe and Trump v. Miot removed legal obstacles that had delayed the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti and Syria. The ruling also reinforces the administration's authority to terminate other TPS designations currently under review. Employers should immediately identify workers whose employment authorization is tied to affected TPS programs, review Form I-9 records, and prepare for forthcoming USCIS guidance before taking any employment action.

The Risks of Outsourcing Medical Billing and the Importance of State-Law Compliance

Offshoring medical billing and other administrative functions can reduce costs, but it also raises significant compliance, operational, and contractual risks. Although HIPAA does not explicitly prohibit protected health information from being accessed or stored outside the United States, healthcare providers and their vendors remain responsible for safeguarding patient information and complying with state-specific restrictions that may limit or prohibit offshore subcontracting.

Risks of Using AI-Generated, Implied Celebrity Endorsements in Advertising

Businesses using AI-generated celebrity images, videos, or voice simulations in advertising may face significant legal risks if the content falsely implies an endorsement, affiliation, or sponsorship. This article discusses potential exposure under false advertising, right of publicity, consumer protection, and professional conduct laws, and explains why disclaimers may not be enough to avoid liability.

CMS Requires Providers to Use an Updated Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) Form by May 12, 2026

CMS has released an updated Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN), Form CMS-R-131, that all providers and suppliers must begin using by May 12, 2026. The revised form includes clearer language and formatting updates intended to improve patient understanding and compliance.

CMS and Ohio Ramp Up Fraud Enforcement in Home Health and Hospice

CMS and Ohio have launched sweeping new fraud prevention initiatives targeting home health and hospice providers, signaling a period of heightened scrutiny for enrollment, billing, documentation, and EVV compliance. While aimed at combating fraud, these measures also create significant operational and due process risks for compliant agencies, making proactive compliance programs, auditing, and governance more important than ever.