HomeWorld NewsNew US H-1B rules could hit Indian IT firms as DHS ends lottery
Starting Feb 27, 2026, DHS will use a weighted H-1B system favoring higher-paid workers, supporting the Trump Administration’s America First agenda. Here’s how the altered system may impact the Indian IT industry.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced major changes to the H-1B visa program, replacing the long-standing random lottery system with a weighted selection process that prioritises higher-skilled and higher-paid foreign workers. The move aims to safeguard wages, working conditions and job opportunities for American workers.
Under the new rule, employers seeking H-1B visas will have a greater chance of success if they petition for candidates at higher wage levels.
The annual cap of 65,000 visas, plus 20,000 for US advanced degree holders, remains unchanged. However, the selection process will now favour applicants who strengthen America’s competitiveness rather than undercut domestic labour.
“The existing random selection process was