New Trump Immigration Policy: Ending the H-1B Visa Lottery

The Trump administration is considering changes to the way some H-1B visas are issued.

In a filing to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security said it was looking at introducing a “weighted selection process” for applicants under the capped part of the system.

{snip}

The DHS filing provides little information on what a weighted selection process would entail, but it does indicate that the change would apply to the statutory number of visas, which is capped at 85,000 per year. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is also listed as the agency responsible for deciding visa applications.

{snip}

Connor O’Brien, a researcher at the Economic Innovation Group, told Newsweek: “The details of the rule and how it is implemented will matter a lot. But eliminating the H-1B lottery in favor of a system that prioritizes higher earners first is a no-brainer.

{snip}