Proposal to Remove H1B Visa Lottery System by Trump After OPT Tax and H1B Fees Burden
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Proposal to Remove H1B Visa Lottery System by Trump After OPT Tax and H1B Fees Burden

JasmineUpdated on 24 Sep 2025, 02:32 PM IST

Recently, the Trump administration has introduced a new and increased fee on the H1B visa. The new H1B visa fees is now USD 100,000 for new applicants. Apart from this, the US administration has proposed changes to the H1B visa selection process. Instead of the current H1B visa lottery system that decides who gets to apply for these limited visa spots, the new proposal aims to prioritize higher-skilled and better-paid international workers. According to the plan, the H1B selection process would be based on the wage level of the applicant. Workers in the highest wage tier who are earning an annual salary of USD 162,528 will be permitted to enter the selection pool four times, while those in the lowest tier will only be entered once. The Donald Trump administration aims to prioritize American workers and eliminate any unfair competition from international workers. Read along to understand the proposed changes to H1B visa selection and their impact if implemented.

This Story also Contains

  1. What is the Proposal on the H1B Visa Selection Criteria?
  2. What Will be the Impact of the Proposed H1B Visa Selection Process?
  3. Conclusion:
Proposal to Remove H1B Visa Lottery System by Trump After OPT Tax and H1B Fees Burden
Proposal to Remove H1B Visa Lottery System by Trump After OPT Tax and H1B Fees Burden

What is the Proposal on the H1B Visa Selection Criteria?

According to the H1B visa proposal by the US administration, the selection would be based on the wage level of the employee. It is believed by the Trump administration that the H1B visa lottery system is too easy to manipulate and does not prioritize skills or compensation. This is one of the reasons why the H1B visa fees were increased to $100,000.

The current random lottery system is followed in the H1B selection process when the applications exceed the available spots of 85,000. The new plan suggests a weighted selection process. This means that the applicants for higher-paying positions would have better chances or even multiple entries. Those in the top wage bracket could have a maximum of four entries, and those in the lowest tier might only get one.

If the proposal is passed, then these updated rules will be applicable from the 2026 lottery cycle, before the H1B visa registration period starts. As part of these changes, a new H1B visa rule requires US companies applying for new H1B visas to pay a fee of $100,000 per application. This fee is introduced to eliminate the misuse of the H1B system and encourage employers to hire USA workers.

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What Will be the Impact of the Proposed H1B Visa Selection Process?

It is important for Indian students on F1 visa in USA and those aiming to study in USA to understand what the impact of the new H1B visa selection process would be if approved. It is quite clear that entry-level workers or recent graduates who are offered a lower wage will get only one chance to enter into the H1B system. Apart from this, according to an estimation by the US Department of Homeland Security, the total wages paid to H1B workers are projected to rise to 502millioninfiscalyear2026,startingonOctober1.Moreover,thewagesareexpectedtoincreaseby1 billion in fiscal 2027, 1.5billioninfiscal2028,and2 billion from fiscal 2029 to 2035. The following will be the impact of the new H1B proposal.

  • There will be more competition for a limited number of H1B visa entries. Those in lower wage brackets will find it difficult to secure visas, even if they meet the qualifications.

  • As per the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), around 5,200 small businesses could face a major loss due to this new proposal.

  • Last year, 71% of H1B approvals were provided to Indian candidates. This means that any new changes on the H1B visa will affect the Indian community. The new proposal will also affect major Indian IT firms like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro. These companies rely on H1B visas, and with the introduction of the new H1B visa fees of $100,000, it will be expensive for these organisations to sponsor new applicants.

Conclusion:

If the new proposal on the H1B visa is approved, then it will have a greater impact on the USA immigration policy for skilled workers. Providing the H1B visa based on wages will be a disadvantage for entry-level workers and Indian students who generally transition from an OPT (Optional Practical Training) program to an H1B visa. Moreover, for US companies, it will be a bigger expense to hire international talent, especially with the introduction of the new H1B visa fee of $100,000. All these changes will make the chances of getting an H1B visa for Indian students or skilled workers challenging and minimal.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the new H1B 100K rule?
A:

Under the new rule for H1B visa, the fees for the visa has been increased to 100,000.UScompaniesthatplanonrecruitinginternationalworkerswillberequiredtopay100,000 per new application.

Q: Which country gets the most H1B visas?
A:

In 2024, the highest number of H1B visa approvals was provided to Indian applicants. 71% of the approved H1B visas were for Indians.

Q: How to stay in the USA without H1B?
A:

To stay in the USA without an H1B visa, candidates can opt for alternative visa options such as O1, L1, J1, OPT Programs, STEM extension and more.

Q: Can my family come with me on an H1B?
A:

Yes, immediate family members such as spouses and children under the age of 21 are permitted to stay with the H1B visa holder.

Questions related to

On Question asked by student community

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Hi there

Yes you can try to learn various courses that are for approximately 3 months to 6 months in duration.

Yes you can learn before going to us. Learning skills definitively adds some value to the life of a candidate and also improves in getting good recognition in life..

Below i have mentioned some courses  that you can try before visiting us:

  • Social media marketing
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  • Stiching
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So these are some courses you can try.

Hope this answer will help you. Revert incase of any query.

Thank you and good luck:)

Hello Samarasimha,

YES, you can MS in UA after completing Bsc in Statistics. . All you have to do is score good marks in your PG and prepare for GRE. You should also decide upon the country and the university in which you are going to study.

Furthermore, the requirements to pursue MS in USA are as follows :

  • 3 to 4 years bachelors degree in relevant field.
  • 3.5 or higher GPA, equivalent to 87% in bachelors.
  • GRE score of 330 or above.
  • Statement of Purpose.
  • Research Internships/ Published Research Papers.
  • Project work/Seminars.
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  • Social & Leadership Activities.

Further, requirements for Software jobs in USA are as follows :

  • Enroll in a software development program. The first step to becoming a software engineer is to enroll in a software development degree program. ...
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  • Choose your specialty. ...
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I hope that this will help.

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

  • TOEFL exam for getting admission to the universities in the US and Canada. The score of this exam is valid for two years after the declaration of results
  • There are plenty of universities abroad where you can apply to do master-level course, MSc in statistics, MSc in Operation Research, and Applied Mathematics, MSc in Mathematical Modeling, etc are some of the Master level Course in Mathematics that are available abroad. Students who have completed their graduation or bachelor's degree in Mathematics can apply for these courses. Foreign universities like Uppsala University, Dublin City University, Oxford Brookes University, University of York, University of Liverpool, etc offer all the above-mentioned courses in mathematics.

Top university of The USA for master degree courses

  • John Carroll University
  • Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Michigan State University
  • West Virginia University
  • Rhode Island College
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  • Delaware State University
  • Texas A&M University-Commerce
  • University of South Florida
  • California State University Northridge

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

There are many ways to choose your university such as fees, the ranking of the university, which state it is located and scholarships. My suggestion is to choose your research focus and write academic papers. In the US, PhD in Commerce admission into the university depends on what you want to study (your area of research) and your already completed research papers. You can begin your research by searching online for US universities offering PhD in Business Administration. One example is University of California Los Angeles (https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/phd-program/admissions#app-req) .


Hello  Student

You are aBHM means Bachelor in Hotel Management so after doing BHM,to gain a bright future  inthis trade you have to do MSc in Hotel Management,post graduation in Hospitality Management,Master degree in travel and tourism management,or MBA in hotel management,AFter doing post graduation in Hotel management or travel and tourism management will give you the best return in employment opportunity.

Hope this will help.