US President Donald Trump has abolished the H-1B visa lottery, replacing it with a system that prioritizes applicants based on salary levels and specialized skills rather than random selection.
The change is expected to have its biggest impact on Indian professionals, who make up a large share of H-1B recipients.
Under the new framework, work visas will be allocated to higher-paid and highly skilled candidates, a move the administration says is aimed at preventing misuse of the program to bring in lower-cost labor at the expense of American workers.
However, critics warn the overhaul effectively turns immigration into a “pay-to-enter” system.
With visa fees reportedly reaching $100,000 and preference given to top earners, the revised rules could make the US job market far less accessible for young and early-career Indian professionals.
