Kathmandu. The US government has decided to end the H-1B visa lottery system.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has decided to end the H-1B visa rollout system by amending the rules. The new rules will come into effect on February 27.
There is going to be a big change in the process of getting H-1B visas in the US. The Department has scrapped the long-standing irregular lottery system for H-1B visas and has finalized a salary-based selection system. This means that it is salaries and skills that will determine who gets an H-1B visa, rather than luck.
According to the department, the H-1B cap will be implemented in the fiscal year 2027 in the registration season. Registration for H-1B visas is expected to begin in March 2026. The selected candidates will start their jobs on October 1, 2026.
The US government has clarified that there is no change in the total number of H-1B visas. Normally, 65,000 visas will be issued under the regular quota. An additional 20,000 visas will be reserved for those with advanced degrees from the US.
Under the new system, applications will no longer be randomly selected. Instead, the weight of applications will be determined by employer and salary level. Companies that offer higher salaries will be more likely to be selected. Low-paying positions will also be eligible. But they will be less likely to be selected.
The U.S. government says the change is to prevent system abuse and duplicate filings. Over the years, there have been allegations that some companies have exploited the lottery system by submitting large numbers of applications for low pay.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) spokesman Matthew Tragaser said that the current H-1B visa selection process is being abused. He said many U.S. employers are trying to hire foreign workers for less than what U.S. workers are paid for. “The new system will make the U.S. labor market competitive,” he said. ’
