H-1B visa program, which allows American firms to hire foreign workers, is set to see a major overhaul under Trump’s presidency.
The H-1B work permit program has always received a lot of criticism because the plan is regarded as favoring foreign workers over American workers. The process of selecting the H-1B petitions has always been the point of contention. Now, the Trump administration has the blueprint ready for a revamped structure of the H-1B visa program.
The H-1B program has been criticized for allowing foreign workers to be hired in low-pay positions that could have been filled by American workers.
Trump and H-1B program
Trump understands the significance of the H-1B program for the US and has not expressed any desire to end it.
Addressing the media at the White House, Trump emphasized the importance of attracting talented professionals to the US and emphasized the H-1B visa program as a crucial tool for attracting skilled workers. He argued that allowing ‘quality people’ to enter the US supports various industries and bolsters the economy.
“You got to get the best people…We have to have the quality people coming in… By doing that, we’re expanding businesses, and that takes care of everybody… But what I really do feel is that we have to let really competent people, great people, come into our country, and we do that through the H-1B,” Trump said.
Howard Lutnick and H-1B program
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has expressed his involvement in changing the H-1B visa program, stating that it is a scam that allows foreign workers to fill American job opportunities. He believes hiring American workers should be the priority for all great American businesses and that now is the time to hire Americans.
H-1B New Rules
New rules for H-1B visas are on the way and most likely they will be introduced in August. The US is set to introduce a new wage-based system to reform the H-1B selection process, focusing on salaries as the primary factor in choosing foreign workers. The higher the compensation, the higher the chances of obtaining an H-1B visa.
Congress sets an annual cap of 65,000 H-1B visas, with an additional 20,000 for those with a U.S. master’s degree or higher.
USCIS could rank applications based on wage, prioritizing the highest-paid applicants until the cap is filled. This wage-based system could be introduced for Fiscal Year 2027 H-1B filings starting in March 2026.