Trump Administration Floats Proposal To Overhaul H-1B Programme, Aiming To Prioritise Higher-Paid And Higher-Skilled Applicants

The United States has reportedly proposed significant amendments to the H-1B visa programme, just days after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing stricter curbs on it, including a $100,000 application fee, NDTV reported.

The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) new proposal seeks to replace the current random lottery with a weighted selection system, prioritising higher-paid and higher-skilled foreign workers.

According to the proposal, the odds of selection would depend on wage levels: applicants in the highest tier—earning $162,528 or more per year—would receive four entries in the lottery pool, while those in the lowest tier would get only one.

According to US immigration experts, this move could reshape the flow of global talent into the US economy.

They pointed out that while senior professionals offered higher salaries might now enjoy multiple chances in the lottery, junior developers and entry-level workers could be restricted to just one chance.

Analysts suggested that this would tilt the system in favour of established companies capable of paying top wages, while making it harder for startups that depend on younger international talent.

They also noted that the proposal could gradually shift the workforce towards more senior, higher-paid roles and redefine how the US competes globally for skills.

This comes after Trump had last week signed a proclamation announcing a $100,000 fee for each new application.

The visa allowed for companies in the US to hire skilled foreign workers in fields such as technology and engineering through a lottery system.

The Trump administration has defended the proposal, calling it a measure to protect American jobs.

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said: “President Trump promised to put American workers first, and this common-sense action does just that by discouraging companies from spamming the system and driving down wages.”

The H-1B programme, widely used by US technology firms to hire foreign talent, is especially significant for Indian professionals, who account for 71 per cent of all approved applications, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services data.

Industry experts warn that the new fee and rules could cost Indian IT giants such as TCS, Infosys and Wipro billions of dollars, potentially reducing hiring or shifting jobs back to India.

White House staff secretary Will Scharf described the H-1B visa as one of the “most abused” programmes in the US.

The timing of the proposal coincides with the visit of Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to New York, where they are scheduled to meet Trump administration officials to discuss bilateral trade and labour mobility.

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