Navigating the New H-1B System: Who Benefits and Who’s Left Behind in the Visa Draw
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Photo: BBC
The H-1B visa selection process is undergoing a transformation, set to take effect on February 27, 2026. The Trump administration is abandoning the random lottery in favor of a system that will prioritize individuals with higher skills and salaries. This initiative, according to the Department of Homeland Security, is intended to better safeguard the wages, working conditions, and employment prospects of American workers by favoring more qualified and higher-earning foreign talent.
New rule to take place in 2027
New rules are scheduled to be implemented on February 27, 2026, and will influence the H-1B visa application period for Fiscal Year 2027. Currently, the U.S. issues 65,000 H-1B visas annually, with an extra 20,000 set aside for those with advanced degrees from American universities. The USCIS explained that the updated regulations introduce a system that prioritizes H-1B visas for individuals with higher skill sets and salaries, while still allowing businesses to hire foreign workers across all pay scales. This new policy will be active for the FY 2027 H-1B registration cycle, commencing on February 27, 2026.
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