The US is scrapping the H-1B visa lottery system in 2026 and replacing it with a wage-weighted system, prioritising higher-paid and higher-skilled applicants, while keeping the annual visa cap unchanged. The US Department of Homeland Security has announced a significant overhaul of the H-1B work visa program, marking a shift away from the long-standing lottery system. Impact on employers and workersMajor technology companies have been among the biggest beneficiaries of the H-1B program in recent years. California continues to host the largest share of H-1B workers in the country. The H-1B program is currently capped at 65,000 new visas each year, with an additional 20,000 reserved for applicants who hold a US master's degree or higher

Source: dna December 24, 2025 02:17 UTC