Hello [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE],
Happy Wednesday. ✨
The Open Atlas Weekly Bulletin
H-1B FY27 Opens March 4 with New Fees and Rules
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Class of 2030 Early Admissions: Testing Rules Redraw the Playing Field
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Codex App Debuts as OpenAI’s New AI Coding Assistant
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You're receiving this email as part of the Open Atlas weekly newsletter. Immigration and global mobility can be complex. So every Wednesday, we simplify that by sharing breaking news, free opportunities, & latest trends. If you find value in reading it, forward this to a lucky friend. If this was forwarded to you, get your own here! Read all the past editions here. 💃 |
Now, onto the newsletter.
🧑🎓 Admissions Corner
Class of 2030 Early Admissions: Testing Rules Redraw the Playing Field
Early data for the Class of 2030 shows testing policies are now a decisive factor in admissions outcomes. Universities that reinstated mandatory SAT/ACT requirements saw application drops, while test-optional schools drew larger pools. Common App trends reveal fewer international applicants and more students submitting scores. For applicants, this signals the need for stronger testing focus, smarter school selection, and realistic targeting. Domestic students may see slightly better odds in the Regular Decision cycle.
College Interview Tips Every Applicant Should Know
This guide explains how students can prepare for college interviews and why these conversations can still influence admissions decisions. It highlights what interviewers look for, how to structure thoughtful answers, and ways to communicate personal goals and interests clearly. Simple preparation steps such as researching the college, practicing common questions, and refining your story can make a strong impression. The guide also covers professional etiquette, body language, and meaningful questions students can ask in return.
📗 Immigration desk: Visa news, options & updates
H-1B FY27 Opens March 4 with New Fees and Rules
USCIS has announced that H-1B registration for FY 2027 will run from March 4 to March 19, 2026, with selections expected by March 31. Employers must submit entries through online organizational accounts and pay a $215 registration fee per beneficiary. A revised system introduces a weighted selection process if registrations exceed the annual cap. The program allows only selected employers to file full petitions, including advanced-degree exemptions. Detailed guidance on the new rules will be released ahead of the application window.
Families Sue Over Trump’s 75-Country Visa Freeze, Calling It Discriminatory and Unlawful
US citizens and immigrant-rights groups have sued to block the suspension of immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, calling it an illegal nationality-based ban. The lawsuit says the administration is misusing the “public charge” rule with unproven claims about welfare dependence. The freeze largely impacts Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Eastern Europe, while business and tourist visas remain unaffected. Plaintiffs argue the policy is separating families who followed legal immigration processes.
💫Career Resources
Free Google AI Training to Gain a Career Edge
Grow with Google’s AI portal offers a range of practical training, tools, and courses designed to help students build essential AI skills and apply them to study, career planning, and job searching. Programs include AI Essentials, Prompting Essentials, and job search-focused AI courses that teach effective use of tools like Gemini and NotebookLM to boost productivity. Students can also access resources to refine writing, prepare for exams, and explore career paths with AI support.
Codex App Debuts as OpenAI’s New AI Coding Assistant
OpenAI’s Codex app brings a powerful AI-driven coding assistant straight to your workflow, helping you write, refactor, and explore code more efficiently across languages and environments. Built on advanced language and reasoning models, Codex can generate code from natural language prompts, suggest completions, and troubleshoot errors, making it a valuable tool for students and professionals alike. It supports common development tools and integrates with terminals, editors like VS Code, and cloud platforms to streamline your programming tasks.
Check out this link to know how it works
🪄 Community highlight
Career Mindset & Strategy for International Professionals in Tech
We’re hosting an interactive webinar on building a high-growth tech career as an international professional.
Devshree Bharatia, Software Engineer 3 at Walmart Global Tech, will share practical frameworks on resilience, career planning, and standing out in competitive global markets. She will cover mindset shifts, visibility strategies, and navigating Big Tech as an international talent.
This session is designed for software engineers and MS aspirants looking for clarity, momentum, and actionable career direction.
Date & Time: 14/02/2026 - 5:00 PM PST.
Register Here
Check out our calendar for upcoming events or subscribe to stay updated.https://luma.com/openatlas
Event Partner: American South Asian Network (ASAN) is the leading platform powering South Asian progress across the United States. We elevate, empower, and unite a rising generation of South Asian creators, entrepreneurs, executives, and change-makers through community, culture, and capital!
Instagram | LinkedIn | WhatsApp community for South Asians
👉 Want to put yourself in front of 40,000+ high-skilled immigrants? Just hit reply to start a conversation.
Until next week, stay awesome.
Yours truly,
Team Open Atlas 💙
💡 None of the information shared in this newsletter is meant to be legal advice. If you're looking for legal advice, speak to a lawyer.