BrainWaves: Visas, Neighbors, and What’s Next

September is moving fast, and October 1 is around the corner. In this issue we cover what the visa reset means, share a can’t-miss neighbors episode from Almaty, and point you to trusted resources you can book today. If you have a story we should feature or a friend we should meet, now is the time to raise a hand! 🤚

In this issue

• Lead Story - Visa deep dive with Manus on EB-1, EB-2, and the October 1 reset

• Upcoming Events

  • Meet Your New Neighbors every Monday at noon Eastern

  • Immigration News: Daily short updates on policy and processing

• Around the Web - Fortune 500 immigrant impact, Ready to Stay directory, PBS H-1B segment

• ICYMI - Mikhail Gaenkov on shipping at scale and planning a U.S. move

• From Our Vault - 9/11 reflection and why immigrant talent powers growth

• Get Involved - Nominate a neighbor or volunteer to be our next guest

Did You Know? Did you know each $1 invested in immigrant relocation can return $2 or more in GDP gains? See the stats below! 👀

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Meet Your New Neighbors

Every Monday at 12 PM Eastern, we go live to introduce you to the remarkable people behind Brain Drain. From our team in the U.S. to clients and GRUMs who might just be your next American neighbor, you never know who’ll stop by. Follow us on social media to get notified! 🔔

Do you know a potential neighbor who could be a guest? See our special call out below!

Immigration News

Stay tuned to our YouTube channel for a a fresh take on immigration news. Published every weekday and running from 6-20 minutes, these short takes are sure to keep you informed!

🚀 Lead story - Visa Deep Dive: From September Squeeze to FY 2026

ICYMI: In last week’s Brain Drain Newsroom, Co-Founder Manus MacLean delivers a concise, data-driven review of the September visa squeeze and what to expect when EB-1 numbers reset on October 1. Watch the breakdown, then use the checklist to prep now so you’re ready on day one.

Key Takeaways

In just six months, our team and board have transformed ideas into action. From our kick-off in February until now, we’ve:

• EB-1 is paused until the new fiscal year begins on October 1, 2025; no additional EB-1 immigrant visas will be issued before then.

• The September 2025 Visa Bulletin shows retrogression pressure and a hold that lasts until FY 2026 opens.

• Use FY 2024 issuance tables to benchmark demand by country and forecast wait times; consider cross-chargeability where eligible.

• Treat the next two weeks as prep time: finish medical exams, update employer letters, confirm I-140 details, and organize packets.

• Employers: align start dates and mobility plans with the reset; communicate realistic timelines to candidates and teams.

• Expect movement after October 1, but not miracles - priority dates and per-country limits still govern the pace.

• Make decisions from data, not rumors; subscribe for updates and share with anyone navigating EB-1/EB-2 this fall.

🛜 Around the Web

Read: A fresh analysis finds 46.2% of the 2025 Fortune 500 were founded by immigrants or their children, generating $8.6 trillion in revenue and employing 15.4 million people. Immigrant-driven companies remain a core engine of U.S. growth.

LEARN: Need trusted immigration help you can book? Ready to Stay is a national network of vetted nonprofits offering free or low-cost screenings, clinics, and legal guidance. Use their directory to find services near you and schedule an appointment.

WATCH: From PBS Newshour The Trump administration moved forward today with its overhaul of H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers. The president is proposing a $100,000 fee for anyone applying for the visa. The plan is sparking concern as employees and companies that rely on the workers race to understand the consequences. William Brangham has two perspectives on the plan from Justin Wolfers and Ronil Hira.

🔥 In Case You Missed It…

Video Replay - From Russia to Almaty: Scaling Games, Planning Futures

Senior backend engineer Mikhail Gaenkov joins us from Almaty to talk shipping live events for Playrix hits, moving in 2022, and mapping a future in the U.S. If you know a neighbor we should feature, see the announcement below.

If you like this video, click the 👍and subscribe - it really helps us out! 😉

Articles from Our Vault

A sober 9/11 reflection that asks the hard question: why did the U.S. choose decades of war and domestic surveillance while allies tied to most hijackers faced few consequences? It breaks down who the attackers were, the Afghanistan/Iraq divergence, the trillion-dollar costs, and a 2025 “border math check,” arguing that honest accounting - not fear - honors the victims.

An opinion piece on how immigrant talent powers the U.S. economy, grounded in real founder stories and outcomes. It shows how newcomers turn risk into jobs, innovation, and growth, and how Brain Drain supports that pipeline.

✨🤔 Who Should We Meet Next?

Meet Your New Neighbors is our weekly live conversation with the people behind Brain Drain. Guests include recent arrivals, seasoned professionals in transition, hiring allies, volunteers, and the teammates who keep our mission moving. We focus on real journeys, practical lessons, and the human side of talent migration. If you or someone you know has a story that could help others navigate work, community, or relocation, we would love to hear from you.

Nominate a neighbor or volunteer to be a guest, or volunteer yourself! 😉 

Just share a few details so we can prep a great segment: name, location, role or specialty, a short topic idea, and links to a CV or portfolio if you have them. Students, researchers, clinicians, engineers, founders, caregivers, and community builders are all welcome. If you are unsure whether your story fits, send it anyway and we will follow up.

👉 Suggest a Story Here!

Did You Know? Did you know that credible economic models estimate every $1 invested in relocating skilled immigrants can yield $2 or more in GDP growth through productivity gains, new businesses, and added tax revenue?

Our Take: Investing in people is smart economics. When skilled neighbors can land, work, and belong, communities grow and everyone wins.

Put your dollars to work today!

The Brain Drain Unlimited Team

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