The Trump administration plans to replace the lottery-based H-1B system with a weighted model favouring higher-paid and more highly skilled foreign workers from FY 2027.
The move is part of a broader overhaul of the H-1B programme.
It is alongside proposals such as a $100,000 visa fee and a separate “gold card” pathway for wealthy individuals.
US To End H-1B Lottery, New Rules Likely To Hit Indian Applicants
The US Department of Homeland Security said the change, effective February 27, 2026, will apply to about 85,000 H-1B visas issued annually, making it tougher for entry-level applicants.
Summary
The United States’ proposed changes to its visa regime are expected to significantly affect H-1B applicants from India. The shift is likely to make it far harder for entry-level workers — including a large number of Indian applicants — to secure employment visas in the US.
The Trump administration plans to replace the lottery-based H-1B work visa system with a weighted selection model that prioritises higher-paid and more highly skilled foreign professionals.
The US Department of Homeland Security has said it is amending “regulations governing the process by which USCIS selects H-1B registrations for unique beneficiaries for filing of H-1B cap-subject petitions”.
According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, “The rule implements a weighted selection process that will favor allocating H-1B visas to higher-skilled and higher-paid aliens while maintaining the opportunity for employers to secure H-1B workers at all wage levels. This final rule is effective February 27, 2026, and will be in place for the FY 2027 H-1B cap registration season,” it said in a notification.
The move to scrap the lottery system is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to overhaul the H-1B programme. The DHS said the revised rules will apply to around 85,000 H-1B visas issued annually, beginning with the fiscal year 2027 registration cycle.
Explaining the reasoning behind the change, US Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said in a statement: “The existing random selection process of H-1B registrations was exploited and abused by US employers who were primarily seeking to import foreign workers at lower wages than they would pay American workers.”
A press release announcing the overhaul said the policy is aligned with other recent measures introduced by the administration, including a presidential proclamation requiring employers to pay an additional $100,000 per visa to qualify.
Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas for highly skilled workers — a move that is currently under legal challenge. He also announced a $1 million “gold card” visa programme that offers wealthy individuals a pathway to US citizenship.
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At present, the annual cap on new H-1B visas is set at 65,000, with an additional 20,000 reserved for applicants holding a master’s degree or higher.
(with inputs from The Indian Express)
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