H-1B Lottery Ends: New ‘Preference-Based’ Policy Introduced

High-skilled, well-compensated applicants to receive priority

The lottery system was replaced with a ‘Preference System’

Washington, D.C., USA: The Trump administration is moving to prioritise highly skilled foreign workers in the H-1B visa program. Alongside increasing the H-1B visa fees to $100,000 annually, the administration is taking steps to limit visas for lower-skilled applicants. Under the new approach, the 85,000 H-1B visas issued each year would be largely reserved for individuals who are both highly skilled and command high salaries.

To replace the traditional random lottery, the new system will favour applicants with advanced skills and higher earnings. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a notice in the Federal Register on Tuesday outlining this change. According to the proposal, “The lottery should be replaced with a weighted system, ensuring that the most skilled foreign professionals sought by U.S. employers receive the highest consideration for H-1B visas.”

Applicants with an expected annual salary of $162,528 or more in the United States would receive four times the weight in the selection process. Lower-paid foreign workers would still have an opportunity but would be given lower priority. Additionally, American workers would continue to be prioritized for lower-level positions. The DHS emphasized that this system is designed to protect U.S. citizens from unfair wage competition while aligning H-1B allocations with skill and compensation levels.