WASHINGTON, D.C.- A group of eight Republican lawmakers has introduced the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026 in the U.S. Congress, calling for a three-year pause to the H-1B visa programme.
The bill, led by Congressman Eli Crane of Arizona, seeks to reduce the annual visa cap from 65,000 to 25,000 and mandate a minimum salary of USD 200,000 per year for all H-1B holders.
The proposed legislation targets major reforms across the programme, including ending the lottery-based selection system, barring dependents from accompanying visa holders, and prohibiting H-1B workers from transitioning to permanent residency.
Indian professionals, who form one of the largest groups of H-1B visa holders across the technology and healthcare sectors, stand to be significantly affected if the bill advances.
What the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act Proposes
Congressman Eli Crane introduced the bill with co-sponsorship from seven Republican colleagues: Brian Babin, Brandon Gill, Wesley Hunt, and Keith Self from Texas; Andy Ogles from Tennessee; Paul Gosar from Arizona; and Tom McClintock from California.
The bill targets what its sponsors describe as a system that has been used to replace American workers with lower-cost foreign labour. It proposes replacing the current lottery-based selection process with a wage-based system that prioritises higher-paying positions.
Employers seeking H-1B workers would need to certify that no qualified American worker is available and that the company has not conducted recent layoffs.
Additional restrictions include barring H-1B visa holders from holding multiple jobs simultaneously and prohibiting third-party staffing agencies from employing them.
The bill also seeks to end the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, which currently allows international students to work in the United States after completing their studies.
Federal Employment and Status Change Restrictions
The legislation goes beyond private-sector reforms by targeting government hiring practices. It proposes a prohibition on federal agencies sponsoring or employing nonimmigrant workers.
On immigration status adjustments, the bill seeks to ensure H-1B visas remain strictly temporary. It would prohibit holders from adjusting their status to permanent residency while in the United States.
The bill also requires nonimmigrant workers to physically depart the country before changing to another nonimmigrant visa category.
Lawmakers Defend the Legislation
Congressman Crane stated that the federal government should serve hardworking citizens rather than corporate profit margins. He emphasised that the bill would provide greater employment access for Americans and strengthen the visa process.
Rep. Brandon Gill expressed support for tightening the H-1B system to ensure it prioritises American workers over foreign applicants. Rep. Paul Gosar described the current programme as one that has been used to replace domestic workers with cheaper alternatives, adding that companies capable of hiring Americans should do so without loopholes.
Rep. Andy Ogles described the H-1B programme as a mechanism that displaces American workers through cheap foreign labour. He called for an end to what he termed the “H-1B scam.”
Rosemary Jenks, Cofounder of the Immigration Accountability Project, called this the strongest H-1B bill ever introduced in Congress. She noted that the programme was originally sold as a short-term visa to fill temporary labour gaps while Americans received training for those roles.
Impact on Indian Professionals and Tech Workers
The H-1B visa programme has long served as a primary pathway for Indian technology professionals, engineers, and physicians to work in the United States. American technology companies rely heavily on the programme to fill specialised roles.
If enacted, the bill’s USD 200,000 minimum salary requirement alone would disqualify a significant portion of current H-1B positions.
The ban on dependent visas would also affect families of H-1B workers, many of whom relocate with spouses and children under the H-4 visa category.
The proposed elimination of the OPT programme would further reduce pathways for Indian students graduating from U.S. universities to gain work experience before returning home or transitioning to employment visas.
Current H-1B Programme Context
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently completed the H-1B cap selection process for fiscal year 2027. Separately, the Trump administration has ordered enhanced vetting for H-1B visa applicants, citing concerns about censorship of free speech.
The White House has characterised the current H-1B system as one plagued by fraud, while maintaining that President Trump holds a nuanced position on the visa programme.
These developments signal a broader push within the current administration and Congress to reshape legal immigration pathways, with the H-1B programme at the centre of the debate.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
