White House Moves to Overhaul H-1B Visa System with Wage-Based Model
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A proposed rule to fundamentally change the H-1B visa program has been approved by the White House, signaling a major shift from the current random lottery to a wage-based selection system. The new policy, a revival of a plan from the previous administration, aims to prioritize high-skilled, high-paying jobs for foreign workers.
According to a preview draft obtained by Bloomberg Law, the new system will likely use four wage-based tiers. Petitions offering higher salaries would receive priority, with the goal of ensuring that H-1B visas are reserved for specialized roles that cannot be filled by the domestic workforce.
The proposed change could benefit experienced professionals but is expected to create significant challenges for international students and recent graduates who typically enter the job market at lower salary levels. Critics argue that the move could limit the pool of foreign talent by prioritizing compensation over merit and skills.
The official rule has not yet been published by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) but is expected to be released for a public comment period soon. The final implementation may face delays due to potential legal challenges, similar to those that stalled the previous attempt to enact a similar policy.
