The Department of Homeland Security will prioritize higher-paid and higher-skilled applicants while keeping visa caps unchanged.
Washington: The President Donald Trump-led administration has decided to replace the longstanding H-1B visa lottery system program with a new scheme to prioritize skilled and higher-paid foreign workers. The new rule is set to take effect on February 27, 2026, and will apply to the 2027 financial year cap registration season, with registrations expected in March 2026 for jobs starting October 1 that year.
The number of H-1B visas issued annually will remain unchanged, capped at 65,000 under the regular quota, with an additional 20,000 reserved for holders of US advanced degrees.
In the fresh scheme of things, registrations will no longer be picked at random. Instead, they will be weighted by employer and wage level, a move designed to discourage duplicate filings and manipulation of the system. Applications offering higher wages will receive stronger odds of selection, while lower-paid roles will still be eligible but face reduced chances.
The Department of Homeland Security said the rule is intended to strike a balance — tightening protections for US workers while preserving access to foreign professionals in fields such as technology, engineering, and healthcare, where demand continues to exceed supply.
According to the department, the change is part of a broader push to reinforce the integrity of the H-1B visa program by discouraging misuse and tightening eligibility standards.
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