WASHINGTON– The Trump administration is moving to overhaul the H-1B visa program, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposing a rule that would replace the long-standing lottery system with a weighted selection process favoring higher-skilled, higher-paid applicants.
The initiative, announced Monday, comes just days after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee for each new H-1B application. The DHS proposal will be subject to a 30-day public comment period.
Currently, the H-1B program allows U.S. companies to hire 85,000 foreign workers annually in fields such as technology and engineering through a random lottery. Under the new framework, DHS says the allocation would prioritize applicants with stronger qualifications and higher wages, while still leaving opportunities for employers to secure workers at varying pay levels.
The proclamation initially sparked widespread confusion over the weekend, as it appeared to extend to current visa holders. The White House clarified that the $100,000 fee will apply only to new applications beginning in the next lottery cycle, not to renewals or existing H-1B workers.
“This is a one-time fee that applies only to the petition. It ONLY applies to new visas, not renewals or current visa holders,” a White House official told IANS.
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers defended the measure, saying it would prevent companies from “spamming the system” and driving down wages. “President Trump promised to put American workers first, and this common-sense action does just that,” Rogers said. “It also gives certainty to American businesses who actually want to bring high-skilled workers to our great country but have been trampled on by abuses of the system.”
Trump signed the proclamation Friday, declaring that the policy’s central incentive is “to hire American workers.”
The announcement coincided with high-level meetings between Indian ministers and U.S. officials in New York. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met Trump administration counterparts to discuss trade and bilateral cooperation. After talks with Jaishankar, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized India’s “critical” importance to the United States.
Jaishankar later posted on X that the discussions “covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern” and underscored the importance of “sustained engagement.” Goyal also held talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, with sources indicating progress toward an interim trade agreement despite remaining sticking points. (Source: IANS)
