H-1B Visas Face Major Change Under DHS Plan

Source: msn/Newsweek

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The Department of Homeland Security plans to propose allocating H‑1B specialty‑occupation visas based on wage levels for job openings by the end of this month, a shift from the current random lottery that federal reviewers cleared earlier in August. Newsweek contacted DHS for comment by email on Thursday outside regular working hours.

Why It Matters

The H-1B program supplies tens of thousands of specialty-occupation workers to U.S. employers each year and is heavily used by the technology sector. Any shift from a random lottery to a wage-tier or skill-based system could change hiring incentives for employers, affecting which foreign professionals obtain U.S. work authorization. Prioritizing higher wages could disadvantage smaller businesses and positions that traditionally pay less, including certain education and nonprofit roles.

What To Know

DHS drafted a proposal to allocate H‑1B specialty‑occupation visas by comparing job openings against the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics wage scale and favoring positions that meet higher wage tiers. The White House's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs cleared the proposal on August 8.

The rule‑making process requires publication of the proposed regulation in the Federal Register, followed by a formal public comment period typically lasting 30 to 60 days and additional administrative steps before any final rule can take effect.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/h-1b-visas-face-major-change-under-dhs-plan/ar-AA1L0xtl