{"id":132775,"date":"2026-02-13T05:35:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T00:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=132775"},"modified":"2026-02-13T03:12:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T21:42:16","slug":"new-us-bill-seeks-to-end-h-1b-visa-programme-by-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/13\/new-us-bill-seeks-to-end-h-1b-visa-programme-by-2027\/","title":{"rendered":"New US Bill Seeks to End H-1B Visa Programme by 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON-<\/strong> A fresh legislative push to dismantle the H-1B visa<\/a> programme has emerged in the US House of Representatives, raising concerns across industries that rely heavily on skilled foreign professionals, including aviation, aerospace, and advanced engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Florida Republican Congressman Greg Steube has introduced the Ending Exploitative Imported Labour Exemptions Act, or the EXILE Act, which proposes eliminating the H-1B visa programme by reducing its annual cap to zero starting fiscal year 2027. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo- Invest India<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

New US H-1B Visa Bill<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The new proposal seeks amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act and marks the second legislative attempt this year to end the long-standing employment visa route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EXILE Act targets Section 214(g)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the provision that governs the H-1B visa cap. If enacted, most US employers would be barred from filing new H-1B petitions once the cap is reduced to zero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, the H-1B programme allows an annual cap of 85,000 visas<\/strong>, including 20,000 reserved for individuals holding advanced US degrees. While non-profit organisations and universities remain exempt from this cap, the bill does not yet clarify whether those exemptions would continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The H-1B visa enables US employers to hire foreign professionals in specialised occupations, including aviation engineering, aircraft maintenance planning, data analytics, and safety research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These roles often support airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and airport operators managing complex global operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo- VFS Global<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Bill’s Impact on Workforce<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to The Times of India<\/a>, available approval data shows that Indian nationals account for roughly 71 percent of H-1B visa approvals, with 283,000 approvals recorded in the most recent dataset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese nationals follow with about 46,680 approvals, representing around 12 percent of beneficiaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steube\u2019s office cites this concentration, arguing that more than 80 percent of H-1B visas are issued to workers from India and China. The congressman claims the system favours younger foreign workers and disadvantages American employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In public remarks, Steube said the programme allows corporations to replace domestic workers with lower-cost foreign labour, undermining long-term workforce stability. He framed the bill as a measure to prioritise American workers and protect domestic employment opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: The White House<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Aviation Sector Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For the aviation sector, the proposal adds to the uncertainty already created by recent changes to the H-1B selection process. The traditional random lottery has been replaced with a wage-based weighted system, significantly altering hiring strategies for technical and operational roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new $100,000 fee for certain new H-1B petitions further raises costs for employers, including airlines and aerospace firms that depend on specialised global talent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Industry observers warn that eliminating the programme could intensify skills shortages in safety-critical and technology-driven functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bill follows an earlier attempt in January, when then-Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced the End H-1B Now Act shortly before leaving office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, the proposals signal growing political pressure on employment-based immigration, with potential ripple effects across US aviation and related industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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World’s Largest Economy Stops All Visa Processing for 75 Countries<\/a><\/blockquote>