Proposed Legislation in the US Aims to Overhaul H-1B Visa Program

A new bill introduced in the US Congress seeks to pause the H-1B visa program for three years, aiming to reform its structure and reduce the number of foreign workers. Sponsored by Republican lawmakers, the legislation proposes significant changes, including lowering the annual cap and implementing stricter hiring requirements for employers. This move has sparked discussions about the impact on American jobs and the future of foreign professionals in the US. Read on to discover the details of this proposed legislation and its implications.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 25, 2026, 10:01 IST

New Bill Introduced in Congress

A recent legislative proposal has emerged in the US Congress advocating for a three-year suspension of the H-1B visa program. This initiative, spearheaded by a coalition of Republican lawmakers, argues that the program has been misused to supplant American workers with less expensive foreign labor. Congressman Eli Crane from Arizona is the primary sponsor of the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026, which has garnered support from seven additional Republican colleagues.

The proposed legislation aims to reform the H-1B program by significantly lowering the annual cap from 65,000 to 25,000, establishing a minimum salary threshold of $200,000 per year, and preventing H-1B visa holders from bringing their dependents to the United States. The original cosponsors of this bill include Congressmen Brian Babin, Brandon Gill, Wesley Hunt, Keith Self (all from Texas), Andy Ogles (Tennessee), Paul Gosar (Arizona), and Tom McClintock (California).

Understanding the H-1B Visa Program

What is the H-1B Visa Programme?

The H-1B visa program is widely utilized by American tech firms to hire foreign talent. A significant portion of H-1B visa holders are Indian professionals, including those in technology and healthcare sectors. The program operates on a lottery basis.

Proposed Changes to the H-1B Visa Program

The new bill outlines several modifications to the H-1B program, which include:

Replacing the current lottery system with a wage-based selection process.

Mandating employers to prove they cannot find qualified American candidates and have not conducted layoffs.

Restricting H-1B workers from holding multiple jobs.

Prohibiting third-party staffing agencies from employing H-1B visa holders.

Preventing federal agencies from sponsoring or employing non-immigrant workers.

Ending Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Ensuring that non-immigrant visas remain temporary by barring H-1B holders from transitioning to permanent residency.

Requiring non-immigrants to leave the US before switching to another non-immigrant status.

(With inputs from various sources)