The US ends H-1B visa lottery system, prioritizing highly skilled and high-paying workers.
Washington (CBS/AP) - December 24, 2025 - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officially announced it will end the lottery system for H-1B work visas, replacing it with a weighted selection system that prioritizes highly skilled and high-paying foreign workers.
According to DHS, the new policy aims to address the long-standing shortcomings of the H-1B program, which has been criticized for being abused to recruit foreign workers at a lower cost than American workers.
Why did the US change the H-1B visa system?
Matthew Tragesser, a spokesperson for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), stated: “The current random selection process has been exploited and abused by some U.S. businesses, primarily to bring in foreign workers for lower wages than those paid to U.S. workers.”
According to the Trump administration, this issue is not only related to the labor market but also... economic security and national security issues.
Regarding other tightening measures
The changes to the H-1B lottery system are part of a larger policy by the Trump administration aimed at restructuring the labor visa program:
- An additional fee of $100,000 per year will be applied to each H-1B visa, as previously signed into law by President Trump.
- This policy has been challenged in court, but at least one federal judge has upheld it, asserting that the president has "broad legal authority" to protect national economic and security interests.
- At the same time, the government also introduced the $1 million "Gold Card" program, opening immigration pathways for wealthy individuals.
How will the new system operate?
According to a DHS press release, the new system will:
- No more random draws.
- Apply weighted selection, in which:
- The profile has a higher salary proposal.
- Positions requiring higher skills and qualifications will have a higher probability of being selected.
This policy will take effect on February 27, 2026, and will apply to the upcoming H-1B visa application season.
Current status of H-1B visas
Currently, the US grants a maximum of:
- 65,000 standard H-1B visas
- 20,000 additional visas for those with a master's degree or higher in the US.
In recent years:
- Amazon is the company that has received the most H-1B visas (over 10,000 visas).
- Following closely behind are Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Apple, and Google.
- California has the highest number of H-1B workers.
Controversial
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Supporters argue that the H-1B is a crucial avenue for the U.S. to attract:
- Healthcare personnel
- Education
- High technology
→ Contributing to promoting innovation and economic growth
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The opposing group argues that:
- Many H-1B visas are issued for entry-level positions, which is not in line with the spirit of "skilled labor."
- Businesses can force low wages by placing employees in low-skill positions, even if they have a lot of experience.
Assessment
The termination of the H-1B visa lottery system marks a fundamental shift in U.S. labor immigration policy, moving from "random opportunity" to a selective approach based on economic value.
For international workers, especially in highly specialized fields, salary and qualifications will become key factors determining their chances of obtaining a visa in the coming period.
