Washington, D.C., USA: USCIS Advisory Indicates Potential Increase in H-1B Wage Levels

Additional reforms may be forthcoming in the near future.

The Trump administration is considering tightening the H-1B visa program by introducing stricter entry requirements, in addition to the recently announced $100,000 visa fee hike.

These potential changes were highlighted in an advisory titled "H-1B FAQ," issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on September 21, alongside the fee increase announcement.

The advisory outlines two significant proposals:

The Department of Labor is contemplating a rulemaking to revise and elevate prevailing wage levels, aiming to enhance the H-1B program and ensure it attracts only the most qualified temporary foreign workers.

The Department of Homeland Security is considering a rulemaking to prioritize high-skilled, high-paid foreign workers in the H-1B lottery over those at lower wage levels.

The advisory concludes by suggesting that additional reforms are under consideration and will be announced in the coming months.