Your Company Won't Pay $100K for Your H1B – Now What? Discover Plan B with Y-Axis

• Trump proposes a $100,000 fee for certain H-1B and Green Card applicants abroad.
• Not everyone is affected — see the breakdown below.
• New wage-based lottery system gives higher salaries better chances.
• IT & Engineering professionals face tougher competition.
• Students in the U.S. must start thinking about a Plan B.

Who’s Affected?

Situation	$100k Fee?	Status
H-1B worker inside U.S.	❌	Not affected
H-1B transfer inside U.S.	❌	Not affected
H-1B extension inside U.S.	❌	Not affected
Travel abroad, H-1B stamp still valid	❌	Not affected
Travel abroad, H-1B expired → new petition	✅	Affected
Currently abroad filing fresh H-1B	✅	Affected
OPT → H-1B (change of status inside U.S.)	❌	Not affected
OPT → H-1B with stamping abroad	✅	Affected
Green card I-485 inside U.S.	❌	Not affected
Green card consular processing abroad	✅	Affected

Wage-Based Lottery Explained

If H-1B applications exceed the 85,000 cap, USCIS will prioritize higher wages:

• Level 4 (highest wage): 4 lottery entries
• Level 3: 3 entries
• Level 2: 2 entries
• Level 1 (lowest wage): 1 entry

The higher your salary, the better your chances.

But what if your salary isn’t at the top levels? Here’s your Plan B — global career options for IT & Engineering professionals.

🌍 Plan B Options for IT & Engineering Professionals

If the U.S. dream is getting tougher, you can still build a great career abroad:

1. Canada PR (Express Entry & PNPs)
   1. Huge demand for software engineers, developers, AI/ML specialists, and engineers.
   2. Direct PR pathway, NO employer sponsorship required.
2. Australia Skilled Migration (Subclass 189/190/491)
   1. Points-based system favors young IT and huge demand for civil engineering professionals.
   2. PR with job flexibility and excellent lifestyle.
3. UK Skilled Worker Visa
   1. Shortage Occupation List includes programmers, developers, and engineers.
   2. Employer sponsorship plus a path to settlement.
4. Germany & EU Work Opportunities
   1. EU Blue Card and Opportunity Card open doors for skilled IT and engineering talent.
   2. Europe is actively seeking IT, Engineering and STEM professionals.
       
5. Middle East & UAE
   1. Strong demand in IT, AI, and engineering projects.
   2. Tax-free salaries and faster visa processing.

🎓 Students in the U.S. What’s Your Plan B?

Relying only on H-1B could be risky. If stamping or fees make it harder, here are smarter routes:

• Canada Work Visa after graduation to PR Pathway
• Australia Graduate Work Visa to PR pathway
• UK Graduate Route to Skilled Worker Visa
• Germany & Europe study-to-work pathways

Don’t let your U.S. study dream end with uncertainty. Have a backup ready.

Your Future Doesn’t End with H-1B — Y-Axis Makes It Global

At Y-Axis, we help you stay ahead of immigration changes:

• For Professionals: PR & work visas in Canada, Australia, UK, Germany, and UAE.
• For Students: Study-to-PR guidance & global career planning.
• For Families: Permanent residency and settlement solutions worldwide.

Don’t let U.S. immigration rules decide your future. Talk to Y-Axis today and unlock your global career options.