The administration of US President Donald Trump has introduced new changes to the H-1B work visa program, which allows American companies to hire foreign specialists for specialized positions. Specifically, the candidate selection process has been modified, and a new fee has been introduced for some applicants. This was reported by Bloomberg, according to UNN.
Details
The H-1B visa is one of the primary employment-based immigration programs in the US. It is actively used by technology companies, universities, and medical institutions to attract skilled workers from abroad. Most holders of such visas work in the information technology sector, with citizens of India and China making up the largest share of recipients.
What has changed
This year, the Trump administration conducted the first H-1B lottery in which preference was given to candidates with higher salaries. Additionally, a fee of $100,000 was introduced for new H-1B workers hired directly from outside the US. Meanwhile, on June 8, a federal court struck down this fee, but the administration has already announced its intention to appeal the decision.
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According to Trump, the H-1B program is often used by companies to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor. The White House also points to instances of abuse during the lottery process and the use of intermediary companies to obtain visas.
Who uses the program
Among the largest employers recruiting workers through the H-1B program are Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Apple. Each year, the US government issues 65,000 new H-1B visas, plus an additional 20,000 visas for individuals with a master's degree or higher obtained from American educational institutions. According to preliminary data, the number of applications for the fiscal year 2027 lottery has decreased by more than 38% compared to the previous year.