A new H-1B visa proposal drafted by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been approved by the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Bloomberg reported. With this clearance on August 8, the rule could be released to the public soon.
While the administration has not disclosed the details, it is widely believed that the proposal closely mirrors a plan introduced during the Trump administration to replace the current lottery system with a wage-based selection process.
Current H-1B Process
The H-1B program allows US companies, especially in the tech sector, to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations. Each year, 85,000 slots are allocated through a random lottery to prevent bias toward specific employers.
Proposed Change
The Trump-era plan sought to allocate visas based on wage levels, favoring higher-paid positions:
Entry: $83,000
Qualified: $108,000
Experienced: $127,000
Fully competent: $151,000
Under this system, only wage levels 3 and 4 (Experienced and Fully Competent) would qualify, making it harder for recent graduates and entry-level foreign workers to secure H-1B roles.
Supporters say the change would protect American entry-level jobs, while critics warn it would limit opportunities for young international talent.
Because the change does not alter the H-1B cap, DHS and USCIS could implement it without congressional approval.
If enacted, it would mark one of the biggest overhauls of the program in years and align with calls from “America First” advocates to prioritize higher-paid jobs for Americans.
