The Trump administration is exploring a potential overhaul of the H-1B visa lottery system by introducing a weighted selection process.
The Trump administration has revealed plans to potentially change the way H-1B visas are administered, particularly by introducing a “weighted selection process.” In a recent submission to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicated it is considering alterations for the capped part of the H-1B system.
The H-1B visa program, which grants 85,000 visas annually, has become a battleground for supporters and opponents. President Donald Trump’s supporters are advocating for more stringent immigration controls, while prominent figures like Elon Musk, along with the president, continue to back the initiative. This visa is a critical pathway for tech companies to hire highly skilled foreign professionals, a point of contention for those who believe it displaces American workers.
Details regarding the potential weighted selection process remain sparse, according to the DHS filing. Nonetheless, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been mentioned as a responsible entity for implementing these potential changes. Traditionally, H-1B visas are distributed through a lottery system, which aims to provide an equal chance for all applicants. Yet, large corporations such as Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft are able to submit more applications, disproportionately securing more visas.
Earlier this year, the Institute for Progress, an independent think tank focusing on innovation policy, proposed removing the lottery system. They reasoned that assessing applications based on criteria like seniority or salary could enhance the program’s economic value significantly. Doing so would, according to the think tank, allocate visas to the most qualified temporary immigrants.
Connor O’Brien, an Economic Innovation Group researcher, expressed support for rethinking the H-1B allocation system by emphasizing, “The details of the rule and how it is implemented will matter a lot. But eliminating the H-1B lottery in favor of a system that prioritizes higher earners first is a no-brainer.”
As of now, no specific timeline has been announced for these changes. It’s also unlikely that next year’s H-1B applicants will be affected, given that the current year’s quota is already filled.
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