In its pursuit to overhaul the H-1B visa programme, the Donald Trump administration in the United States is planning to go beyond the initial shock of the $100,000 mandatory fee and impose additional immigration restrictions on how employers can use the permit and who qualifies for it.
The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a rule change in its regulatory agenda to modify the H-1B visa category. The proposals, formally listed in the Federal Register under the title of ‘Reforming the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program’, include several technical aspects, like “revising eligibility for cap exemptions, providing greater scrutiny for employers that have violated programme requirements, and increasing oversight over third-party placements’, among other provisions.”
It is not clear if the DHS plans to potentially narrow which employers and positions are exempted from the annual cap. But if the Trump administration changes the exemption caps, the move could affect nonprofit research organisations, universities, and healthcare institutions that currently benefit from exemptions, Newsweek reported.
“These changes are intended to improve the integrity of the H-1B nonimmigrant program and better protect US workers’ wages and working conditions,” the proposal said. The changes are expected to impact thousands of Indian students and young professionals hoping to work in the US.
According to the regulatory notice, December 2025 is a possible publication date for the rule.
Earlier reports said that the Trump administration was considering replacing the traditional H-1B visa lottery with a wage-based selection system.
