The Biden administration has just taken a significant step toward overhauling the H-1B visa process: replacing the traditional random lottery with a wage-based selection system. This change, approved by the White House’s regulatory review office, aims to prioritize foreign applicants with higher-paying job offers—shifting the process toward merit and compensation rather than chance.
What’s Changing:
- From lottery to merit: Instead of being chosen randomly, applicants will now be ranked based on criteria like offered salary and potentially education level.
- Tech industry impact: Employers offering higher pay—often bigger companies—are likely to benefit most, while startups and smaller businesses may face increased competition.
- Policy roots: This plan revives elements from the 2021 proposal originally introduced under the previous administration.
What Lies Ahead:
- The rule is expected to be released publicly soon and will undergo a formal comment period before it can be finalized and enforced.
- Immigration experts warn the wage-based system could narrow opportunities for many, reshaping how U.S. employers recruit global talent.
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