Imagine landing your dream job after years of hard work, only to find out your visa depends on luck — a random lottery. For tens of thousands of international workers, this has been the frustrating reality of the H-1B visa. Now, the Trump administration wants to scrap that lottery altogether. Instead, they propose prioritizing applicants based on the salary offered. The idea is simple: pay more, get picked first. This plan recalls a similar rule from 2021 that was never implemented, but if it goes through, it could take effect as soon as March 2026.
Right now, the U.S. caps H-1B visas at 85,000 annually. When demand exceeds supply, USCIS holds a lottery to decide who gets in. This new approach would rank candidates by wage level instead, giving those with higher salaries an edge.
Who Wins and Who Loses?
At first glance, paying more for talent sounds fair — but the details tell a different story. Senior engineers and executives with six-figure salaries would benefit the most. But what about international students fresh out of university or early-career professionals? Most fall into lower wage brackets and could be left behind.
Startups may also struggle. They often lack the budget to compete with tech giants on salary offers, making it harder to attract needed foreign talent. And it’s not just tech jobs affected — teachers, researchers, and medical professionals, many of whom earn less but provide critical services, might also find themselves shut out.
What This Means for U.S. Innovation and Fairness
Beyond immediate hiring challenges, this policy raises big questions about the future of U.S. competitiveness. Other countries focus on recruiting young talent and recent graduates to build innovation pipelines. By favoring high salaries, the U.S. risks losing these bright minds before they even get started.
Legal experts have also voiced concerns. The current law says H-1B visas should be processed in order, without wage-based preference. There’s a strong chance the new rule will face legal challenges and public pushback.
At its core, this change asks whether a paycheck should determine access to opportunity. Talent doesn’t always show up with a big salary attached, especially early in a career. How America answers this question will shape its workforce and innovation landscape for years to come.