End of H-1B visa lottery? DHS plans to replace model with ‘weighted selection process'
H-1B visa lottery to end? What to know
Right now, the process is pretty straightforward: eligible applications are submitted, and then a computer-generated lottery picks who gets the limited spots. Around 85,000 visas are available each year under the cap, with 20,000 of them set aside for people who have a Master's degree or higher from a U.S. institution. But every year, demand far outpaces supply.
So, what does 'weighted selection' mean exactly? That part is still unclear. The DHS has not shared many details publicly yet, but early analysis suggests that applications could be ranked based on factors like salary, education level, or even seniority.
If that happens, it could completely change who benefits from the H-1B program. A study earlier this year by the Institute for Progress showed that if salaries were prioritized over random chance, the average H-1B recipient's pay could jump from about $106,000 to $172,000.
That would make things much harder for outsourcing firms who rely on hiring large numbers of lower-wage workers, but could be a big plus for researchers, PhD holders, and senior-level tech professionals.
Experts like Connor O'Brien from the Economic Innovation Group are in support of the change. He posted on X (formerly Twitter) that 'random allocation is insane' and that ranking by salary would better reflect the country's needs.
For Indian workers, who made up over 70% of H-1B recipients in the last two years, these changes could have mixed results. Those with higher degrees or specialized roles might benefit, while others could find it harder to secure a visa.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is still working on the final draft of the rule, and it is expected to go through public review before anything is set in stone. But if passed, the new system could be in place as early as next year.
FAQs
1. What is the new proposed change to the H-1B visa process?
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed replacing the random H-1B lottery system with a weighted selection process that may prioritize applicants with higher salaries or advanced qualifications.
2. Will the H-1B lottery system be eliminated?
Yes, if the proposal is approved, the current random lottery system could be replaced by a merit-based or salary-ranking system, especially for the capped portion of the H-1B visa program.
3. How will the new H-1B selection process affect Indian applicants?
Indian nationals, who make up over 70% of H-1B recipients, may face tougher competition. The new system may favor highly paid or specialized applicants, possibly impacting outsourcing firms.
4. What is the current annual cap for H-1B visas?
The H-1B visa program currently has an annual cap of 85,000 visas, including 20,000 spots reserved for applicants with a U.S. master's degree or higher.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Deccan Herald
21 minutes ago
- Deccan Herald
‘At least a year' before India-UK trade deal is operational
New Delhi: The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between India and the UK, signed in London on Thursday, will take at least a year to become operational, as it requires approval from the British Parliament, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said on Friday.'In the UK, it will take almost a year or so before it is ratified in Parliament,' Barthwal stated at a media said that the agreement must be approved by both houses of Parliament — the House of Commons and the House of Lords. There is also likely to be a select committee discussion on the issue. In India, the deal has already been approved by the Union Cabinet. No parliamentary approval is required here for free trade agreements to be to discussions with his British counterpart, Barthwal said the UK has expressed willingness to ratify the agreement in Parliament at the said that the British government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is keen on the early implementation of the to Barthwal, the Indian government would utilise the time for capacity building of exporters and other claimed that the deal would bring significant benefits to several labour-intensive sectors, including textiles, leather, footwear and gems & will India's auto, farm sectors benefit from UK trade deal?.'Four times concessions'On the auto sector, Barthwal said, 'India has secured market access to the tune of four times the concessions given to the UK on electric vehicles in the British market.'The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), which represents major vehicle and vehicular engine manufacturers in the country, welcomed the agreement, saying that it would open new trade opportunities across industries.'The commitments made by the Government of India on automobile sector tariffs strike a thoughtful balance — addressing consumer interests while supporting the broader goals of Indian industry,' said Shailesh Chandra, SIAM who is also the Managing Director of Tata Passenger Vehicles, added, 'We view this agreement as part of a wider strategic engagement and believe it opens new avenues for collaboration and opportunity with a key global partner.'Commerce Secretary Barthwal clarified that no concessions would be given to the UK in the import of electric, hybrid and hydrogen-powered vehicles in the first five years of the implementation of the deal.'Market access in EV is given mostly in the high price segment of vehicles priced above 80,000 British pounds,' he said.
Indian Express
21 minutes ago
- Indian Express
NCERT panel head defends ‘broad survey' approach in new social science textbooks
The new NCERT social science textbooks for classes 6 to 8 provide a 'broad survey' of Indian civilisation from prehistoric times to Independence, and an 'in-depth, detailed treatment of any period of India's history is not only impossible, but undesirable,' according to Michel Danino, chairperson of the NCERT's curricular area group for the new social science textbooks. 'Were it to be attempted, we would be falling back into the old pitfall of burdening students with loads of data that they simply cannot digest or relate to, and end up resenting,' Danino, a guest professor at IIT Gandhinagar, wrote in a note that responds to the recent criticism of the new social science books. Last week, NCERT released part 1 of the social science textbook for class 8. Pointing out that his note represents his personal opinion, Danino wrote that the rationale for these books providing only a broad survey is that 'a number of school students drop out at the end of class 8, and should be exposed to such an overview before leaving school.' However, he added that a 'survey' need not be superficial and 'it has been our attempt to touch upon key figures, events, concepts, developments etc., which we would like students to remember all their lives.' Referring to a new approach to the syllabus and textbooks in the context of the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, Danino wrote that this new foundation for school education has formulated new pedagogical approaches, new classroom transactions and a reduced syllabus. The new approach focuses on essential principles, concepts, events, and developments, 'moving away from data-heavy, supposedly 'comprehensive' textbooks that only promoted rote-learning,' he wrote. On recent references to 'omissions' from these textbooks, including that of the Paika rebellion of Odisha's Khurda region against British rule in the 19th century, Danino wrote that no chapters have been 'added' or 'omitted' since 'the whole basis is different.' The new social science textbooks cover history, geography, political science, and economics in one book, unlike in earlier years when there were different books for these themes. '…each new textbook has combined in a single volume what was earlier dealt with in four. This alone testifies to our concern for content reduction, as mandated by the NEP 2020,' Danino wrote. Listing 23 rebellions against British colonial rule, relevant to the period that the class 8 textbook's chapter covers, Danino pointed out that only six of these rebellions figure in part 1 of the textbook. 'Keeping the student in mind, we selected them as sufficiently representative, in our view, of the growing discontent among Indian populations against colonial rule. We must now ask our critics the following questions: who is to decide which of these uprisings and rebellions are major and which are minor? Should people of the states or clans mentioned in the 17 rebellions (and many more) not covered in this chapter start protesting that they are hurt by the 'omission' of those particular rebellions?' Danino wrote.
India Today
32 minutes ago
- India Today
PM Modi resets Maldives ties, Pak Army Chief meets China's Foreign Minister, more
In this episode of World Today, the focus is on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day state visit to the Maldives, the first hosted by President Mohamed Muizzu's government. This visit marks a significant turnaround in relations after the 'India Out' campaign. Several agreements were signed, including a Rs. 4850 crore line of credit to the Maldives and the launch of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement. President Muizzu congratulated the Indian Prime Minister, stating, "This remarkable milestone 4078 consecutive days in office is a testament to your unwavering commitment to public service." The programme also covers India signing a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom. Other major international developments include Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir's visit to Beijing to discuss the security of Chinese nationals, escalating conflict between Thailand and Cambodia over the Preah Vihear temple, and French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that France will recognise the Palestinian state.
