Fee Hikes, Backlogs, and the H-1B Shake-Up

Derek Lawson

Hey everyone, welcome back to The Immigration Conversation. I’m Derek Lawson, here with Ruby Sturt. Today, we’re diving into some big changes—new visa fees, backlogs, H-1B drama, and, well, a detention center with a nickname that sounds straight out of a horror movie. Ruby, you ready?

Ruby Sturt

Always, Derek. And honestly, “Alligator Alcatraz” is a bit much, even for Florida. But let’s start with the money, because that’s what everyone’s talking about. So, as of July 4th, there’s this new $250 visa integrity fee. It’s not just for a few folks—it’s for most U.S. visa applicants. Tourists, students, workers, you name it. And it’s on top of all the other fees, which, let’s be real, were already pretty steep.

Derek Lawson

Yeah, and what’s wild is, there’s no way to get a waiver. Doesn’t matter if you’re a student scraping by or a family trying to visit relatives. You pay the $250 if your visa’s approved. Now, technically, there’s a refund process if you follow all the visa rules, but the details are, uh, murky at best. Some folks might wait years to see that money again—if they ever do.

Ruby Sturt

And it’s not just the integrity fee. The law also bumps up fees for parole, asylum, and TPS applicants. So, families fleeing danger, people seeking protection, even employers bringing in workers—they’re all facing higher costs. I was chatting with a group of international students last week, and they’re honestly stressed. They’re worried about how these rising costs will affect their ability to study here, especially since there’s no fee waiver. It’s not just a line item—it’s a real barrier for a lot of people.

Derek Lawson

Yeah, and employers aren’t off the hook either. They’re looking at higher costs to sponsor workers, which could mean fewer opportunities for everyone. We talked about this a bit in our last episode, when the Visa Integrity Fee was first announced, but now that it’s law, the uncertainty is even more real. The lack of a clear refund process just adds to the confusion. I mean, who wants to gamble with hundreds of dollars on top of everything else?

Ruby Sturt

Exactly. And for students, especially, it’s not just about the money—it’s about feeling welcome. When you keep raising fees and making the process harder, it sends a message, whether you mean to or not. I think we’re going to see more people reconsidering their plans, or looking at other countries where the process is a bit more straightforward.

Derek Lawson

And speaking of straightforward, let’s talk about the not-so-straightforward world of USCIS processing times. The latest data from the second quarter of 2025 is out, and, well, it’s not pretty. Backlogs are up, processing times are longer, and approval rates are shifting all over the place. It’s tough for applicants, but it’s also a headache for legal professionals trying to give people realistic timelines.

Ruby Sturt

Yeah, and it’s not just a few extra weeks. We’re talking months, sometimes over a year, for cases that used to move much faster. And it’s across the board—family-based, employment-based, you name it. I’ve had people ask, “Is it even worth applying right now?” And honestly, it’s a fair question.

Derek Lawson

It reminds me of my college radio days, actually. We had a J-1 student from South Korea who was always anxious about the rules changing mid-year. And now, with the government investigating Harvard’s use of the J-1 visa, I can only imagine the stress for students and researchers. No fraud’s been alleged, but the scrutiny is real—especially for programs linked to China. It’s like, even if you’re following every rule, you’re still under the microscope.

Ruby Sturt

Yeah, and universities are feeling it too. The J-1 program brings in hundreds of thousands of students, researchers, au pairs—so much talent. But now, with this investigation, there’s a sense that everyone’s being watched more closely. It’s not just about Harvard; it could mean more oversight for schools and visa holders everywhere. And for researchers from China, the pressure’s even higher. It’s a lot to navigate, especially when the rules keep shifting.

Derek Lawson

And the thing is, these delays and investigations don’t just slow things down—they make people second-guess whether the U.S. is the right place to study or work. We’ve talked before about how policy changes can have ripple effects, and I think we’re seeing that play out in real time. It’s not just numbers on a spreadsheet; it’s people’s lives on hold.

Ruby Sturt

Absolutely. And for legal professionals, it’s getting harder to give clear advice. Processing times are unpredictable, and with more oversight, there’s more paperwork, more questions, more stress. It’s a lot for everyone involved.

Derek Lawson

Let’s shift gears to the H-1B situation, because there’s a lot happening there too. The cap for fiscal year 2026 is already met—65,000 regular, 20,000 for advanced degrees. If you missed out, you’re out of luck until next year, unless you’re filing for an extension or transfer. And now, there’s talk of scrapping the lottery system entirely and moving to a wage-based selection process. That could be a game-changer.

Ruby Sturt

Yeah, and not necessarily in a good way. The idea is, instead of a random lottery, visas would go to the highest-paid applicants first. So, big tech companies and senior roles might win out, but recent grads and early-career folks? They could be left behind. It’s a huge shift, and honestly, it could mean the end of the road for a lot of international students who want to stay after graduation.

Derek Lawson

Right, and this isn’t the first time we’ve seen this proposal. There was a similar rule in 2021, but it never took effect. Now, with the Trump administration pushing it again, we could see the lottery gone as soon as March 2026. Employers and workers are going to have to rethink their strategies—maybe look at other visa options, or plan even further ahead. It’s a lot of uncertainty, and not everyone’s going to benefit.

Ruby Sturt

And while all that’s happening, there’s this crisis at the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center in Florida. Over a thousand men in tents, sewage leaks, no proper medical care—just awful conditions. Advocacy groups are calling for it to be shut down, and even Mexico’s president is getting involved, trying to get their nationals out. There are reports of minors being detained, hospitalizations, and just really dangerous health risks. It’s a human rights issue, plain and simple.

Derek Lawson

Yeah, and it’s not just about one facility. It’s about how we handle immigration enforcement as a whole. When you see these kinds of conditions, it raises big questions about health, safety, and basic human dignity. We’ve covered detention issues before, but this feels like a new low. Hopefully, the attention leads to real change, but, well, we’ll have to keep watching.

Ruby Sturt

Definitely. There’s a lot to keep an eye on—visa fees, backlogs, H-1B changes, and the ongoing detention crisis. We’ll keep breaking it down as things develop. Thanks for tuning in, everyone. Derek, always a pleasure.

Derek Lawson

Likewise, Ruby. We’ll be back soon with more updates and, hopefully, some better news. Take care, everyone.