H-1B Visas Could Be Dramatically Slashed Under New Bill [View all]

Source: Newsweek

Published Apr 23, 2026 at 08:06 AM EDT updated Apr 23, 2026 at 09:32 AM EDT


Republican Representative Eli Crane has introduced a bill to pause the issuance of new H-1B visas for three years and implement significant changes thereafter.

H-1B visas allow employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations such as health care, engineering, and tech roles, and require at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. The visas have come under scrutiny during President Donald Trump's administration, as conservatives have sought to overhaul the process amid concerns that employers are replacing American workers with foreign nationals.

What Has Crane Proposed?

Crane's proposals include the following:

Reduce the annual H-1B visa cap from 65,000 to 25,000

Replace the lottery system with a wage-based selection system

Require employers to prove they cannot find qualified Americans and have not conducted layoffs

Set a minimum H-1B wage of $200,000 per year

Bar H-1B workers from holding multiple jobs

Stop H-1B workers from bringing their dependents to the United States

Crane's proposal, which was co-sponsored by seven other Republican representatives, would need to be passed by the U.S. House and Senate to be implemented.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/h-1b-visa-could-be-dramatically-slashed-under-new-bill-eli-crane-immigration-11867961