- The US bill proposes a three-year pause and lower H-1B visa cap at 25,000 annually
- A $200,000 minimum salary and wage-based visa selection would replace the lottery system
- The bill bans third-party staffing and ends Optional Practical Training for international students
A new bill in the United States Congress seeks a three-year pause on H-1B visas, a lower annual cap and a $200,000 minimum salary for visa holders. The proposal could sharply change the route used by many Indian professionals to work in the US.
The measure has drawn attention because Indians are among the largest groups using the H-1B programme in technology and healthcare. If passed, it could affect hiring, family relocation and future residency plans.
The 'End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026' was introduced last week by a group of eight Republican lawmakers. The bill is led by Eli Crane.
Co-sponsors include Brian Babin, Brandon Gill, Wesley Hunt, Keith Self, Andy Ogles, Paul Gosar and Tom McClintock.
Key Changes
The bill proposes cutting the annual H-1B visa cap from 65,000 to 25,000. It also seeks to replace the current lottery system with wage-based selection.
Another key proposal is a minimum salary of $200,000 a year for all H-1B holders. It would also bar third-party staffing arrangements.
The bill further proposes ending Optional Practical Training for international students, restricting dependents from accompanying workers and stopping H-1B holders from adjusting to permanent residency.
Indian Impact
Indian professionals could face the biggest impact if the bill moves forward. A $200,000 salary floor could shut out many existing roles that currently qualify under the programme.
Restrictions on dependents would also affect families that move together under the H-4 category. That could make relocation harder for workers already planning jobs in the US.
"The federal government should work for hardworking citizens, not the profit margins of massive corporations," said Crane.
H-1B visas have been "hijacked to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labour - plain and simple," said Gosar.
"This is the strongest H-1B bill that has ever been introduced in Congress. H-1B visas were sold to the American people as a short-term visa to fill temporary labour gaps, while Americans are trained to take those jobs," said Rosemary Jenks.
Congress Path
The bill faces an uncertain path and would need approval in both chambers of Congress before being signed into law by the President.
For now, current H-1B rules remain unchanged unless legislation is enacted. The proposal follows earlier measures under Donald Trump, including a $100,000 fee on new H-1B applications.
It also comes after the EXILE Act introduced in February 2026 by Greg Steube, which seeks to eliminate the H-1B category from fiscal year 2027.
ALSO READ: Bill For Three-Year Pause On H-1B Visas Introduced In US Congress
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