US H-1B Overhaul: Lottery Ends, High-Skilled Priority; Indian IT Firms Face Impact

• DHS replaces H-1B lottery with weighted selection, prioritizing higher-skilled, higher-paid foreign workers.
• Aims to protect American jobs and wages; employers petitioning for higher wage levels have better chances.
• Annual visa cap remains unchanged; new rule effective Feb 27, 2026, for FY 2027 H-1B cap season.
• Additional $100,000 fee per visa adds cost pressure, aligning with "America First" policy.
• Significant impact on Indian IT firms like TCS, Infosys, Wipro, requiring hiring strategy reorientation.

Why It Matters: New US H-1B rules prioritize high-skilled workers, ending lottery, impacting Indian IT firms significantly.