Trump's H-1B Revamp: Higher Skills, Higher Pay Prioritized. Will Indians Be Hit?

• US H-1B visa lottery system revamped to prioritize higher-skilled, higher-paid applicants, effective Feb 27, 2026.
• The new weighted system replaces random selection, giving more chances to higher wage levels (e.g., Level IV gets 4 entries).
• Change aims to curb misuse by employers hiring foreign workers cheaply and strengthen US competitiveness.
• Likely to disproportionately affect recent Indian graduates and smaller companies; major Indian IT firms may re-evaluate hiring.
• Experts question if the new system truly favors higher skills, citing examples where seniority/pay might outweigh specialized expertise.

Why It Matters: US H-1B visa lottery shifts to prioritize higher skills and pay, potentially impacting Indian professionals.