Know All About New H-1B Visa System replacing Lottery

Working in the United States is becoming harder for foreign professionals, especially those hoping to get an H-1B work visa.

Earlier, the H-1B visa system worked through a lottery. This meant that even if you met all the requirements, your selection depended on luck. Many skilled workers applied every year, and names were picked randomly.

Now, the US has changed this system. Instead of a lottery, visa applications will be prioritised based on salary. In simple terms, people who are offered higher salaries will have a better chance of getting the visa.

This change will mainly benefit high-paid professionals, especially those working in specialised fields like technology, engineering, and artificial intelligence. At the same time, it could make things more difficult for fresh graduates and entry-level workers, who usually earn lower salaries.

Overall, this move shows that the US wants to attract top-earning and highly skilled talent, but it may reduce opportunities for many young professionals who dream of starting their careers in the country.

What is the visa lottery system?

It should be noted that for many years, the US H-1B visa system has had a lottery system, in which individuals were selected for the visa through a lottery. There is a fixed number of H-1B visas, and only that many people are granted visas. There is a US master quota and a general quota. First, the American company registers the candidate's name on the USCIS website. A lottery is then held, and some individuals are selected for the visa. If a name is not drawn in the lottery, the visa is denied.

Impact of the New System

The total number of H-1B visas will remain the same under the new system. The US will continue to issue 65,000 visas under the regular quota and 25,000 visas for applicants with advanced US degrees.

However, the way visas are selected will change. Instead of a lottery, applications will be ranked by salary. This means people offered higher-paying jobs will have a better chance of getting a visa. Those with lower salaries can still apply, but their chances will be smaller.

Indian professionals will continue to be the largest group of H-1B recipients, as they currently make up over 70% of approvals. The new system will not completely block fresh graduates or early-career workers, but experienced professionals and higher earners will benefit more.

How much has the system changed so far?

The U.S. immigration system has changed significantly. Before the visa lottery was stopped, visa fees increased sharply, reaching up to $100,000. The document verification process also became more complicated. In addition, major changes were made to the Gold Card visa rules. These developments suggest that the U.S. is placing more importance on applicants’ financial strength, not just their skills.