"The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday it was replacing its longstanding lottery system for H-1B work visas with a new approach that prioritizes skilled, higher-paid foreign workers. The change follows a series of actions by the Trump administration aimed at reshaping a visa program that critics say has become a pipeline for overseas workers willing to work for lower pay, but supporters say drives innovation."
"The existing random selection process of H-1B registrations was exploited and abused by U.S. employers who were primarily seeking to import foreign workers at lower wages than they would pay American workers, said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Matthew Tragesser. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 annual H-1B visa fee on highly skilled workers, which is being challenged in court."
DHS will replace the longstanding H-1B lottery with a weighted selection process to increase the probability that visas go to higher-skilled, higher-paid foreign workers. The change responds to concerns that the random registration process was exploited by employers seeking lower-wage overseas labor. Recent administration measures include a presidential proclamation imposing a $100,000 annual H-1B visa fee for highly skilled workers and a $1 million "gold card" visa pathway for wealthy individuals. The new rule takes effect Feb. 27, 2026, and applies to the upcoming H-1B cap registration season. Major recipients include Amazon, Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Apple and Google, and California hosts the highest concentration of H-1B workers. Supporters cite benefits for healthcare hiring, education, and innovation.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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