### Major Overhaul of H-1B Visa System: U.S. Ends Lottery to Favor Higher-Paid, Skilled Workers The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced a significant change to the H-1B visa program, which has traditionally relied on a random lottery system for selecting applicants. This overhaul will replace the lottery with a weighted selection process that prioritizes higher-paid and higher-skilled foreign workers. The new rules are set to take effect on February 27, 2026, and aim to enhance the integrity of the visa program while protecting American jobs from wage suppression and potential abuse of the system. This decision reflects ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to reshape immigration policies to favor skilled labor and curb the influx of lower-paid foreign workers [https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/h1b-visa-overhaul-us-ends-lottery-system-to-now-prioritise-higher-paid-higher-skilled-workers-article-153339375]. ### Structure of the H-1B Visa Overhaul Announcement 1. **End of the Lottery System**: The random lottery system that has been in place for decades will be eliminated. 2. **Introduction of a Weighted Selection Process**: The new system will prioritize applicants based on their salary and skill level. 3. **Implementation Timeline**: The changes will be effective starting February 27, 2026, for the fiscal year 2027 registration period. 4. **Objectives of the Change**: The primary goals include protecting American workers, enhancing program integrity, and ensuring that visas are allocated to those who can contribute significantly to the U.S. economy [https://collegedunia.com/usa/article/us-scraps-h1b-visa-lottery]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **New Selection Criteria**: The weighted selection process will favor applicants with higher salaries and specialized skills, increasing their chances of obtaining an H-1B visa. - **Impact on Visa Allocation**: The U.S. government will maintain the annual cap of 85,000 H-1B visas, but the new system is expected to shift the demographic of visa recipients towards more highly skilled and better-compensated individuals [https://www.deccanchronicle.com/world/americas/us-scraps-h-1b-visa-lottery-shifts-to-higher-paid-worker-selection-1926006]. - **Historical Context**: The previous lottery system was criticized for allowing lower-paid workers to fill positions that could be occupied by American citizens, leading to concerns about wage suppression [https://www.apnews.com/article/h1b-visas-trump-amazon-application-immigration-tech-f32f3f07b286181c0e37b34ab04005fc]. ### Summary of Findings **The U.S. has officially ended the H-1B visa lottery system, implementing a new selection process that prioritizes higher-paid and higher-skilled foreign workers.** 1. **End of Lottery**: The random selection process will be replaced by a merit-based system. 2. **New Criteria**: The focus will be on salary and skill level, aiming to attract top talent. 3. **Implementation Date**: The changes will take effect in February 2026. 4. **Goals**: The overhaul aims to protect American jobs and enhance the integrity of the visa program. This shift marks a significant change in U.S. immigration policy, reflecting a broader trend towards prioritizing skilled labor in the workforce [https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/us-overhauls-h-1b-visa-lottery-to-favor-high-skilled-high-paid-workers/story].