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New bill aims to halt H-1B visas for 3 years
The proposal would reduce visa caps to 25,000, replace the lottery with wage-based selection, and require a $200,000 minimum salary.
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 22, Apr 2026
- 17:44 EDT
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प्रतीकात्मक तस्वीर / Lalit K Jha
A new bill introduced in the U.S. House of representatives on April 22 calls for a three-year halt to new H-1B visas and sweeping changes to the program when it resumes.
The ‘End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026’ introduced by Arizona Republican Eli Crane would reduce the annual H1-B cap from 65,000 to 25,000, eliminate exemptions, and limit visas to a single three-year term.
Also Read: GOP Rep. Moore alleges foreign labor misuse via student visas
Under the bill, employers would be required to prove they could not find a qualified American worker before hiring through H-1B and confirm they had not recently laid off U.S. employees.
The bill mandates a wage-based selection system in place of the lottery and would also set a minimum H-1B salary of $200,000 per year while banning third-party staffing agencies from employing H-1B workers.
“The federal government should work for hardworking citizens, not the profit margins of massive corporations. We owe it to the American people to prevent the broken H-1B system from boxing them out of jobs they are qualified to perform. The End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026 would provide greater access to employment, strengthen protocols in the visa process, and prioritize the livelihoods of Americans. I’m honored to introduce this legislation, and I’m grateful for those who raised awareness about this flawed process,” said Rep. Crane.
The bill codifies a $100,000 fee for H-1B petitions and extends it to workers changing employers.
Other major provisions include prohibiting H-1B visa holders from bringing dependents, barring federal agencies from employing nonimmigrant workers, and eliminating the Optional Practical Training program.
The legislation also seeks to prevent H-1B holders from adjusting to permanent residency and would require nonimmigrant visa holders to leave the United States before changing visa status.
Described as one of the strongest H-1B reform bills introduced in Congress, the bill is backed by Representatives Brian Babin (TX-36), Brandon Gill (TX-26), Paul Gosar (AZ-9), Wesley Hunt (TX-38), Tom McClintock (CA-5), Keith Self (TX-3), and Andy Ogles (TN-5).
“I am proud to cosponsor Rep. Eli Crane’s efforts,” Gill said.
Gosar said the program “has been hijacked to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor–plain and simple,” while Ogles called the program a “scam.”
The proposal comes as the H-1B system is undergoing changes in 2026, including a shift to wage-based selection, stricter filing requirements, and higher costs, including a $100,000 fee for new petitions.
The H-1B program, created under the Immigration Act of 1990, allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations. Indian nationals account for the largest share of recipients.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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