New Delhi: The Trump administration is planning to make the H-1B visa programme more difficult for the immigrants. US plans to impose additional immigration regulations on how employers can use the permit and what are the eligibility criteria for it. Earlier they had put USD 100,000 charges for the new applications for visa for immigrants.
According to reports, Department of of Homeland Security (DHS) has suggested some modification in its H-1B visa programme. The applicants, officially marked in the Federal Register under the title of ‘Reforming the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program’, comprises of some technical features, like “revising eligibility” for cap exemptions, for the employers that have violated the essentials for the programme by providing them greater scrutiny.
As per reports this rule may come into effect from December,2025. Initially it was said that the Trump administration was planning to replace the traditional H-1B visa lottery with a wage based selection process.
Effect on immigrants
This move of Trump’s administration will affect thousands of Indian students and young professionals who want to work in the US. “These changes are intended to improve the integrity of the H-1B nonimmigrant program and better protect US workers’ wages and working conditions,” the proposal said.
It is not yet confirmed which employers and positions are to be excused from the annual cap by the DHS. But even if it happens, at present it could only impact nonprofit research organisations, universities, and healthcare institutions from the exemptions, Newsweek reported.
Indians still getting most of the H-1B visas
According to a report by Pew Research Centre. Almost three-quarters of total applications which were accepted came from India and minimum 60% of the H-1B visas have been approved since 2012 for the tech related jobs.
It has been observed that H-1B via holders are sometimes paid the same or higher salaries than the native employees with similar qualifications and experience.