WASHINGTON — The United States is overhauling its H-1B work visa system by replacing the long-standing random lottery with a new selection process that gives preference to applicants offered higher wages and possessing advanced skills, U.S. officials said.
The change, expected to take effect for the upcoming visa cycles, will prioritize petitions tied to higher salary levels based on U.S. Department of Labor wage data. Under the revised system, applications offering higher wages will receive greater weight in the selection process, increasing their likelihood of approval under the annual cap.
What Is the H-1B Visa Program?
The H-1B visa allows U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations that typically require at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent expertise. It is widely used in sectors such as technology, engineering, finance, health care and research.
Each year, the program is capped at 85,000 new visas — 65,000 under the regular quota and 20,000 reserved for applicants holding advanced degrees from U.S. institutions.
Because demand has consistently exceeded the cap, the government has historically used a random lottery system to select applicants. Critics argued that the lottery treated all eligible applications equally, regardless of wage level or skill intensity.
What Is Changing?
Under the new framework, the random selection model will be replaced or significantly modified to favor higher-paying positions. Applications linked to top wage tiers will receive greater priority, while lower-wage positions may have reduced chances of selection.
U.S. officials say the reform is designed to protect domestic workers by encouraging employers to offer competitive salaries and prioritize highly skilled foreign professionals.
However, some industry groups and immigration advocates warn the change could disadvantage smaller firms, startups and entry-level professionals who may not meet the higher wage thresholds.
The H-1B program remains a central pathway for skilled foreign workers — particularly from countries such as India and China — seeking employment in the United States.