The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday it was replacing its longstanding lottery system for H-1B work visas with a new approach that prioritises skilled, higher-paid foreign workers. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a USD 100,000 annual H-1B visa fee on highly skilled workers, which is being challenged in court. California has the highest concentration of H-1B workers. The new system will “implement a weighted selection process that will increase the probability that H-1B visas are allocated to higher-skilled and higher-paid” foreign workers, according to Tuesday's press release. Supporters of the H-1B program say it is an important pathway to hiring healthcare workers and educators.

Source: The Telegraph December 24, 2025 06:54 UTC