Hello Reader,
Happy Wednesday. ✨
Two wins in court this week: the green card freeze is unlawful, and the H-1B fee stays blocked. Plus, scholarship deadlines, a new MIT fellowship, and two immigration webinars worth your time.
This week's roundup, below.
The Open Atlas Weekly Bulletin
Judge Rules 75-Country Green Card Freeze Unlawful
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Winning Tips for the Schwarzman Scholars Application
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Apply to the MIT Catalyst Fellowship Before August 10
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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.
📗 Immigration desk: Visa news, options & updates
Judge Rules 75-Country Green Card Freeze Unlawful
A federal judge has ruled that the State Department’s green card freeze affecting applicants from 75 countries is unlawful. The policy, introduced in January over concerns that applicants could become dependent on public benefits, had affected mostly family-based applicants and some employment-based green card seekers. Judge Amit Mehta found that the policy improperly removed the discretion Congress gave consular officers to assess individual applications. The ruling currently applies to the EB-5 applicant who brought the case, while broader legal challenges to the policy continue.
Court Says No to the $100K H-1B Fee For Now
Employers are currently not required to pay the additional $100,000 H-1B fee. A district court previously vacated the policy, and on July 24, 2026, the First Circuit refused to restore it while the government’s appeal is pending. Standard H-1B filing fees and eligibility requirements still apply. The decision is an interim victory rather than a final resolution, and the fee could return if the government succeeds on appeal, receives relief from a higher court or obtains new authorization from Congress.
🧑🎓 Admissions Corner
Winning Tips for Your Schwarzman Scholars Application
The application for the Schwarzman Scholars Class of 2027–28 is now open, with the deadline approaching on September 9. In this free virtual session, admissions coach and former Schwarzman Scholar Michael G. will explain how applicants can build a competitive profile, align their experiences with the program’s values and write stronger essays. He has supported more than 25 successful scholarship recipients and over 50 global finalists.
The session will be held on August 5, 2026, from 9:30 PM to 10:30 PM IST.
Register here: https://www.joinleland.com/event/winning-tips-for-your-schwarzman-scholars-application-0f5e97
💫Career Resources
Apply to the MIT Catalyst Fellowship
Applications are open for the MIT Catalyst Fellowship, a team-based research and innovation program designed to help professionals turn critical problems into meaningful solutions. Fellows work across disciplines, test assumptions, develop technologies and collaborate with faculty mentors through an iterative process focused on creating real-world impact.
The initial program runs from January through June 2027 and requires approximately 10–15 hours per week, including weekly online sessions and three in-person working sessions at MIT. Applicants should be willing to collaborate outside their area of expertise, receive constructive feedback and take ownership of both their projects and careers.
The program does not charge tuition, but participants are expected to be physically present in the United States for parts of the program, and visa sponsorship is not provided. Applications completed by August 10 will receive priority consideration.
Start your application here: https://catalyst.mit.edu/apply/
The Room Every Immigrant Wishes They Had on Day One
Open Atlas Summit 2026 will bring together 1,000+ high-skilled immigrants, founders, engineers, attorneys, investors and students for two days of practical sessions on visas, careers, startups, AI, admissions and wealth building. Following 800+ attendees in 2025, this year’s edition will also include a job fair, hackathon, founder lounges and one-on-one legal consultations. If you are building your future in America, this is one room you should not miss.
Reserve your spot here
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WEBINAR ALERT
O-1A and EB-1A Evidence Strategy With Evan Law
Join senior U.S. immigration attorney Evan J. Law for a practical session on how USCIS evaluates O-1A and EB-1A evidence, including awards, media coverage, original contributions, critical roles, expert letters and final merits determination. Evan previously spent seven years as an appeals officer at the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office and has handled more than 1,300 cases. The session will be held online on August 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET, 4:00 PM CT and 2:00 PM PT.
Register now
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👉 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.