H-1B Visa in 2026: What Awaits Holders and Candidates After Major Changes in the US
The year 2026 brings great uncertainty for holders and applicants of H-1B visa, after the administration of the president Trump-and during her second term introduced the most significant reforms to this program in the last few decades. The changes relate to the selection process, costs, and overall availability of work visas for highly educated foreign workers.
End of the classic lottery for H-1B visas
One of the most important novelties is abolition of the previous random lottery system. So far USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) every year randomly selected winners among hundreds of thousands of entries for a total of 85,000 H-1B visas – 65.000 within the regular quota and additional ones 20.000 for candidates with master's degrees or higher education obtained in the US.
Under the new rules, which enter into force February 27, 2026, is introduced paid weighted lottery, in which preference is given to candidates with higher salaries and more experience.
How the new scoring system works
In the new model, the level of the offered salary determines the candidate's chances in the lottery:
- Level IV (highest pay grade) – 4 lottery entries
- Level III - 3 entries
- Level II - 2 entries
- Level I (Beginner Level) – 1 entry
Such a system significantly increases the chances of more experienced and better-paid experts, while young professionals and international students which transition from OPT or STEM OPT program they remain in a significantly more unfavorable position.
New costs and a controversial fee of $100,000
In addition to the lottery changes, the introduction of causes additional concern new fees of $100,000 for new H-1B petitions, which represents a huge financial burden for employers. This measure is already the subject of lawsuits – California and more 19 US states they filed a lawsuit against the administration Donald Trump, claiming that the tax is illegal and harmful to the economy.
Although this fee is still under legal challenge, its potential effect could be reduction in the number of companies willing to sponsor foreign workers.
The broader strategy of tightening legal immigration
Despite occasional White House messages regarding support for highly educated migrants, the combination higher costs, stricter checks and a new selection system points to a clear strategy of limiting legal immigration during 2026.
The outcome of court proceedings and potential further regulatory changes will be key factors in determining the future of the H-1B program, but it is already clear that H-1B visas will be harder, more expensive, and more selective to get than before.
For foreign professionals planning a career in the US, 2026 represents a turning point and requires careful planning, timely preparation, and monitoring of further developments in immigration policy.
SOURCE: FINANCIAL EXPRESS PHOTO: PEXELS
