USCIS announced that H-1B visa pre-registration will open from March 4 to March 19. This year, employers must pay a new fee of $100,000 for each H-1B applicant not inside the US during selection and petition filing. This fee was introduced during the Trump administration and, despite legal challenges, remains in effect. Attorney Anna Stepanova from Murthy Law Firm advised companies to expand their hiring strategies beyond just H-1B visas. She highlighted the L-1 visa program as a viable option to hire talent from abroad. L-1 visas allow multinational companies to transfer managers or specialized employees from their overseas offices to the US. There are two types of L-1 visas: L-1A for managers and executives, and L-1B for employees with specialized knowledge. A key condition is that the overseas company must be related to the US company, like a subsidiary or affiliate, and this relationship must be documented for USCIS. Stepanova noted that while the L-1 visa can be a useful route, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. L-1 visa holders can later switch to H-1B or apply for a Green Card if eligible. Unlike H-1B visas, L-1 visas have no lottery and no annual cap, offering companies more flexibility in hiring.