New Rules for US Work Permit 2026: Check Changes in the Rules
The Trump administration has introduced new rules for USA work permit for international workers. These changes will impact the international workers, students and also US employers. One of the biggest changes in the rules for work permits in USA includes the H1B visa fee hike to $100,000. Some of the other significant changes include digital biometrics, updated work permit renewal timelines, priority processing for high-demand fields like healthcare, AI, and engineering, increased penalties for fraudulent applications and more such changes. In addition, there are proposals to end OPT or the OPT tax exemption for international students. International applicants must understand the new changes in rules for USA work permit 2026 before applying. Read along to explore the changes and prepare accordingly.
Changes in the Rules for US Work Visa
Recently, the US government has introduced some major changes in the rules of the work permit for foreigners. These changes are going to impact the new applications in USA significantly. These changes aim to prioritize American workers over internationally skilled workers. The following are some of the changes in the US work permit.
H1B Visa Changes
The Trump administration has increased the H1B visa fee from $2,000 - $5,000 to $100,000. This fee is to be paid by the US companies that are sponsoring international skilled workers. However, this fee is applicable only to the new applicants.
H-2B Visa Changes
USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) has the authority to deny H-2B petitions if the employer or any employee has a track record of serious labor law violations. In this case, the employer or the employee will not be able to submit new H-2A/B petitions for up to three years.
Proposed Changes to OPT
After the H1B visa fee hike, it is proposed that OPT should be ended. In addition, there is a proposal to remove OPT tax exemption on international students and their employers. For this, two acts have been discussed, namely, the DIGNITY Act and HIRE Act.
Project Firewall
The Department of Labor has initiated Project Firewall which is an initiative to protect the rights of American workers. It will also help in ensuring that if any H1B visa holder is misusing the H1B process.
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Impact of the New Rules for the USA Work Visa on Foreigners
The upcoming changes to the US work permit will affect the students who are transitioning from F-1 visas to H-1B status. Indian students, who are one of the biggest international student communities, will be impacted, which can lead to students considering studying and working in other countries instead. Some of the impacts of the new rules are as follows:
Entry ban for new H1B workers: The increased $100,000 fee can cause new international skilled workers to not enter the US job market. This is because the increased fee is to be paid by the US employers, and they will be highly selective in choosing the H1B visa holder.
Increased cost on US employers: This new H1B fee is quite high and applicants for entry-level to mid-level jobs might face limited job opportunities. For many businesses, especially small and medium-sized ones, this expense might be too much to handle.
Uncertainty for international graduates: The proposed changes to student visa durations, the elimination of Optional Practical Training (OPT), and stricter transitions from OPT to H1B could make USA lose the international talent.
Disruption in workforce planning: US employers might struggle to plan how they will be hiring international skilled workers. As a result, some may choose to shift towards outsourcing, automation, or focusing on domestic hiring instead.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Who pays for an H-1B visa?
A:
The H1B visa fees is paid by the employers in USA. This means that the US company that is sponsoring the international skilled worker pays the new $100,000 fees.
Q: What are the new H-1B rules for 2025?
A:
According to the new rules for H1B visa in 2025, the visa fee has been increased to $100,000. However, this new fee is applicable only to the new applicants and has to be paid by the US companies sponsoring H1B.
Q: How long does it take to get a work permit in 2025?
A:
A work permit in USA can take up to 4 to 12 months to get approved. However, the work permit for OPT students can be approved in 6 months.
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Hi there
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Dear aspirant hope you are doing well..
To study at foreign universities/abroad in U. S , the admission process will require the candidate to give one language exam and one standardized exam. However, depending on the country, course, college, or university you are applying for you may be exempted from standardized exams. The language test will showcase your English proficiency skills. These exams are required for pursuing almost all courses abroad. Different countries have different language exams such as
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Top university of The USA for master degree courses
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You can get the detailed information about the process how to apply for MS in USA. read the given article. Link is given below
https://studyabroad.careers360.com/articles/how-apply-for-ms-in-usa/amp
Hope it's helpful for you..
Thank you
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Hello Student
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Hope this will help.
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