H-1B visa lottery replaced in sweeping process change
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is ending the random H-1B visa lottery and introducing a wage-based selection system that prioritizes higher-paid, highly skilled foreign workers. The change affects both the regular H-1B cap and the advanced degree exemption, using federal wage levels to rank employer registrations. The agency states that the new process aims to align the program with labor market needs and strengthen protections for U.S. workers by favoring higher-wage positions. The numerical cap on H-1B visas remains unchanged under current law.