Exclusive: House Republican Bill Would Pause H-1B Visas, Make Dramatic Changes to the Program

A bill that would pause the issuance of H-1B visas for three years to reform the program for when it resumes has been introduced by Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) and co-sponsored by a half dozen other House Republicans.

The proposal, introduced Wednesday, would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 to bring the H1-B program back from hiatus with a series of dramatic changes in an aim to better protect American workers — and would rotate the current crop of visaholders out of the U.S. during the pause.

The cap on visas issued would be reduced from 65,000 to 25,000, the existing exemptions to the cap would be eliminated, and the allowance of two three-year visa terms would be reduced to just one. Applicants would be required to have a foreign residence to which they intend to return when their terms are up, instead of continuing to live in the U.S.

Employers would also be faced with stricter guidelines, with companies seeking to import H-1B visaholders being required to attest that they are unable to find a qualified American worker for that position, that bringing in a foreigner would not adversely affect American workers, and that they have not laid off workers in the previous year and will not lay any off in the following year. Employers would also have to pay the H-1B at least $200,000 per year.

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