The Trump administration is preparing sweeping changes to the H-1B visa and green card systems, signalling a shift toward wage-based immigration and merit-driven selection.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed on Monday that he is working on reforms to scrap the current lottery system and replace it with a more selective, wage-based model.
“We’re going to change the green card. The average American earns $75,000 a year, while the average green card recipient earns $66,000. Why are we doing that? It’s like picking from the bottom,” Lutnick told Fox News. “That’s why Donald Trump is going to change it. The Gold Card is coming — we’re going to start picking the best people, and it’s time for that.”
In a post on X, Lutnick went further, calling the current H-1B process “a scam that lets foreign workers fill American job opportunities.” He added that hiring American workers should be the top priority for US companies.
The proposed changes include eliminating the H-1B lottery system and awarding visas to higher-earning applicants first. A draft rule on this system was approved earlier this month by the US Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
The so-called “Gold Card,” still in the discussion phase, is being positioned as an alternative to the existing green card process, designed to attract high-skilled, high-income professionals. The plan ties into Trump’s broader “America First” immigration strategy.
The overhaul has drawn immediate attention in India, where professionals make up over 70% of H-1B visa recipients.
Critics warn that restricting access to foreign talent could backfire, as companies may shift jobs overseas through outsourcing or remote hiring instead of employing American workers.
