The US Department of Homeland Security said on Tuesday that it is replacing the long-standing lottery system for H-1B work visas with a new framework that prioritises skilled, higher-paid foreign workers.
The move follows a series of steps by the Trump administration aimed at reshaping a visa programme that has increasingly served as a channel for overseas workers willing to accept lower wages.
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a USD 100,000 annual H-1B visa fee on highly skilled workers, a measure that is currently being challenged in court. He also introduced a USD 1 million “gold card” visa offering a pathway to US citizenship for wealthy individuals.
The new system will take effect on February 27, 2026, and will apply to the upcoming H-1B cap registration season. The number of new H-1B visas issued each year remains capped at 65,000, with an additional 20,000 reserved for applicants holding a master’s degree or higher.
