The US has made a major change in the H-1B visa process, which is important for foreign professionals in the country. Now H-1B visa beneficiaries will be selected on the basis of salary instead of random lottery. The US Immigration Agency has prepared a new system of Form I-129 for this, which will be made mandatory from April 1, 2026.
Under the new system, companies will have to provide complete information related to job and salary in the petition filed for foreign employees. Previously, selection of professionals applying for H-1B visas was almost entirely based on lottery, limiting the chances of getting a visa for highly qualified and experienced candidates.
Experts believe that the new changes will have a direct impact on high-salaried and experienced professionals. Now highly paid candidates will have greater chances of getting a visa than ever before. Additionally, the move will help American companies attract more experienced and skilled foreign professionals.
In the new system, applicants will be divided into four salary levels. According to this system, the higher the salary level of the post, the more chances the candidate will get in the selection process. For example, a Level-4 candidate will get four chances, while a Level-1 candidate will get only one chance. This means that higher paid professionals will be given priority in the visa process.
The US Immigration Agency says this change is part of America’s strategy to maintain its global competitive edge. The agency aims to bring qualified and experienced professionals to the country and provide them employment opportunities. This will fill the shortage of talented foreign workers in America’s technology companies and other industries.
Additionally, companies are now required to enter detailed information such as job description, responsibilities and salary level in the visa application. This will make the selection process more transparent and fair. Experts say that this is a beneficial change for professionals, as it will give opportunities to qualified and experienced candidates as per their potential.
This change brings both challenges and opportunities for foreign professionals. While this is a better opportunity for experienced and highly paid professionals, lower paid candidates may now face difficulty in the selection process.
Before implementing the new system, the US Immigration Agency has also issued training and guidelines for companies and professionals. The move will help meet the demand for skilled and experienced workers in America’s tech industry and other sectors.
Thus, this major change in the H-1B visa process is going to prove important for both foreign professionals and American companies. The new salary-based selection system will increase opportunities for highly qualified professionals, allowing the United States to attract global talent.
