H-1B Visas Could Be Dramatically Slashed Under New Bill
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.
Crane said in a statement: “The federal government should work for hardworking citizens, not the profit margins of massive corporations. We owe it to the American people to prevent the broken H-1B system from boxing them out of jobs they are qualified to perform. The End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026 would provide greater access to employment, strengthen protocols in the visa process, and prioritize the livelihoods of Americans. I'm honored to introduce this legislation, and I'm grateful for those who raised awareness about this flawed process.”
It comes after the State Department announced it will expand its review of visa applicants' online presence to cover many more nonimmigrant visa categories. H-1B visas were already subject to the policy.
Meanwhile, recent updates to the H-1B program have already introduced stricter filing rules and additional oversight, reflecting a wider government effort to tighten legal immigration pathways and increase enforcement checks. The Trump administration has slapped a $100,000 fee on certain new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025, and moved toward a wage-weighted selection system that gives preference to higher-paid roles.
At the same time, the Department of Labor has launched "Project Firewall," an initiative focused on holding employers accountable for H-1B program violations. The changes are reshaping who gets selected in the annual visa lottery and how employers approach sponsorship decisions.
It remains to be seen whether Crane’s proposal attracts sufficient support to move forward.
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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 5:06 AM.