The Trump administration announced on Tuesday a proposal to change how H-1B visas are awarded, aiming to favor workers with stronger skills and higher salaries. According to a notice in
the Federal Register, the new process would prioritize applications from employers offering bigger paychecks whenever demand for the visas exceeds the annual cap of 85,000.
Officials say the change is designed to shield American workers from being undercut by cheaper foreign labor.
This move comes just days after the White House stirred controversy by floating a hefty $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visas. Initially, the announcement sparked panic among companies and visa holders, with some firms even urging employees to rush back to the U.S. The administration later clarified that the fee would only apply to new applications, not existing visas.
The H-1B program has long been a favorite among tech and outsourcing firms that rely on international talent. But it’s now in the crosshairs of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, which has included mass deportation efforts and attempts to restrict citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. Photo by Doug Letterman, Wikimedia commons.
