Republican lawmakers introduce bill to suspend H-1B visas, tighten rules and prioritise American workers
April 25, 2026: The H-1B visa programme, widely used by US tech companies to hire foreign professionals, is facing a fresh challenge under the leadership of Donald Trump. A group of Republican lawmakers in the US Congress has introduced legislation seeking a three-year suspension of the programme, citing concerns that it has been misused to replace American workers with lower-cost foreign labour. The move comes months after a proposal to impose a $100,000 fee on new applications.
The bill, introduced by Congressman Eli Crane, proposes sweeping reforms including reducing the annual visa cap from 65,000 to 25,000 and setting a minimum salary threshold of $200,000. It also seeks to bar H-1B holders from bringing dependents, end the lottery system in favour of wage-based selection, and restrict companies from hiring foreign workers if qualified Americans are available. Several Republican lawmakers have backed the proposal, calling the current system “broken” and biased against domestic workers.
The proposed changes could significantly impact Indian professionals, who form a major share of H-1B recipients. Immigration experts warn that if implemented, the freeze could force many visa holders to leave the US or shift to other visa categories. The bill also aims to block pathways to permanent residency and tighten rules across employment-based immigration, raising concerns among those already waiting in long green card backlogs.