Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: THE Donald Trump-led administration has changed the regulations governing the H-1B work visa selection process, replacing the lottery system with wage and skill-based selection, according to media reports.
While announcing the decision, the US Department of Homeland Security on December 23 said it would from now be prioritising “the allocation of visas to higher-skilled and higher-paid” foreign workers. According to the latest notification, the DHS said the move would better protect the wages, working conditions, and job opportunities for American workers.
“The new rule replaces the random lottery for selecting visa recipients with a process that gives greater weight to those with higher skills,” the DHS said in the statement. The new rules will be effective starting February 27, 2026, and will be applicable for the FY 2027 H-1B cap registration season. The number of H-1B visas issued annually is limited to 65,000 at present, with an additional 20,000 for US advanced degree holders.
The DHS said that the current “random selection process” had drawn criticism from different corners “for allowing unscrupulous employers to exploit it”. The department said the lottery had resulted in “flooding” of lower-skilled foreign workers paid at low wages”, adding that this was a detriment to the American workforce.
The administration said it would continue to update the H-1B programme with such regulatory changes “to help American businesses without allowing the abuse that was harming American workers.” The rule is in line with key changes made by the Trump administration, like the hike in H-1B visa fee to $100,000 per visa as a condition of eligibility, the DHS said.
