H-1B Visa: US President Donald Trump’s America First policy is becoming a source of trouble for Indians. Now, the Trump administration has made changes to H-1B visa rules, further compounding the difficulties.
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The Donald Trump administration in the US has announced the end of the old random lottery system for H-1B work visas. Instead, a new “weighted selection” system will be introduced, prioritizing more skilled and higher-paid foreign workers. This change is intended to improve the salaries, jobs, and working conditions of American workers.
Notification of the new rule issued
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued this new rule on Tuesday. USCIS spokesperson Matthew Treasurer said, “Many American companies were taking advantage of the old random lottery system to hire foreign workers at lower salaries, who were willing to work for less than American workers.”
What changes will come with the new rules?
Visa selection will no longer be random, but will be weighted.
Selection will be weighted based on salary level. Applicants with higher-paying job offers will have a higher chance.
The Department of Labor (DOL) will establish four wage levels: one entry at the lowest level and four entries at the highest. This will benefit high-paid and high-skilled workers.
The annual cap will remain the same, at a total of 85,000 H-1B visas (65,000 for general applicants + 20,000 for those with advanced degrees).
This rule will take effect on February 27, 2026, and will begin with the fiscal year 2027 H-1B cap registration season.
Why did the Trump administration take this decision?
The Trump administration says the old system was being misused. Companies would hire foreign workers at lower salaries, even if they had more experience, under the guise of entry-level jobs. This impacted the jobs and salaries of American workers. The new system is part of the America First policy, which will promote high-skilled talent.
What will be the impact on Indian workers?
Indian professionals are the largest users of H-1B visas. This change will make it more difficult for young Indians in entry-level or low-paid positions to obtain visas. Experienced workers in high-paid and senior roles will benefit. This year, Amazon was the largest recipient of H-1B visas (10,000+), followed by TCS, Microsoft, Apple, and Google.
