Pervaiz Anwar, Dawn TV, Daily Dawn
Washington: The current lottery system for H-1B work visas in the US has been abolished, and a new weighted system has been implemented, under which more skilled and higher-paid foreign workers will be given priority.
According to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), this new law will come into effect from February 27, 2026, and in fiscal year 2027, about 85,000 H-1B visas will be allotted under this new procedure.
A spokesperson for the US Citizenship and Immigration Service said that the current lottery system was being misused by some companies to bring in foreign workers at lower wages than American employees.
Under the new system, salary and skills will be made the main criteria in the allotment of visas, which will make it difficult for entry-level professionals to get work in the US.
The change is part of additional measures, according to a statement issued by the Trump administration, including an additional $100,000 fee requirement for H-1B visas and a $1 million “gold card visa scheme,” which is being challenged in court.
Experts say the new policy will limit opportunities for less-experienced Indian and other foreign professionals, while large technology companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, and Google will continue to hire skilled workers.
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