Trump administration moves to overhaul how H-1B visas are granted, ending lottery system
WASHINGTON– The Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that it is replacing its longstanding lottery system for H-1B work visas with a new approach that prioritizes qualified, higher-paid foreign workers.
The change follows a series of actions by the Trump administration aimed at reshaping a visa program that critics say has become a conduit for foreign workers willing to work for lower pay, but which supporters say spurs innovation.
“The existing random selection process for H-1B registrations has been exploited and abused by U.S. employers who primarily sought to import foreign workers at lower wages than they would pay U.S. workers,” said Matthew Tragesser, a spokesman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 annual H-1B visa fee on high-skilled workers, which is being challenged in court. The president also established a $1 million “gold card” visa as a pathway to U.S. citizenship for wealthy individuals.
A press release announcing the new rule says it is “consistent with other key changes made by the administration, such as the presidential proclamation that requires employers to pay an additional $100,000 per visa as a condition of eligibility.”
Historically, H-1B visas were awarded through a lottery system. This year, Amazon was by far the top beneficiary, with over 10,000 visas approved, followed by Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Apple and Google. California has the highest concentration of H-1B workers.
The new system “will implement a weighted selection process that will increase the likelihood that H-1B visas will be awarded to more qualified and higher-paid foreign workers,” according to Tuesday’s press release. It will take effect on February 27, 2026, and will apply to the next H-1B cap filing season.
Supporters of the H-1B program say it is an important avenue for hiring health care workers and educators. They say it spurs innovation and economic growth in the United States and allows employers to fill jobs in specialized fields.
Critics argue that visas are often awarded to entry-level positions rather than management positions requiring specialized skills. While the program aims to prevent wage suppression or displacement of American workers, critics say companies can pay lower wages by classifying jobs at lower skill levels, even when the workers hired have more experience.
The number of new visas issued each year is capped at 65,000, plus an additional 20,000 for those with a master’s degree or higher.
