New Admin r2i rate

[Returning_Indian]

Anecdotally, visas like O1 and EB1 have become easier (and no change from Trump yet). People are preparing for it like they would for a GRE or entrance exam and getting these in a year or two. Now is an excellent time for talented people to come in this way. Especially considering the much lower quality coming in through F1 and H1

there was specific guidance from Biden to make it easier for O-1 and EB1 but that has changed completely in last 3-4months. USCIS has completely ignored Biden directives since Aug and started denying and issuing absurd RFEs. Now after Trump it's only getting worse. Golden period for that category has unfortunately passed. Now they are equating EB1 to winning nobel prize. Anecdotally ofcourse it all depends if the evaluating officer is nice or got laid the night before.

[Returning_Indian]

Some of my neighbors converted to a visitor visa upon job loss on H1B and got a new H1B with another employer- I did not even know if that's even possible, but Indian ingenuity at play here, I guess!

even for this there was unwritten guidance from Biden to allow this status change to tourist visa as people were in trouble after layoffs started in massive numbers and 60days wasn't enough to find another job and get visa transferred. Otherwise it's not possible to convert the status to tourist visa while GC is pending. Even without pending GC, it would fall under fraudulent category to change status to tourist and then back to h1b again as intent was never to be just a tourist. Biden admin was just being lot more liberal.

It's possible this history of changing to tourist visa may catch up with these people at some point when they go for visa stamping, GC approval time or any other time. It all depends on mercy of current administration.