Washington, April 25: A group of Republican lawmakers in the United States has introduced a new bill proposing a three-year suspension of the H-1B visa programme along with major reforms aimed at tightening employment rules for foreign workers.
The proposed legislation, titled the “End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026,” was introduced by Republican Congressman Eli Crane. Supporters of the bill argue that the existing visa system has negatively impacted American workers by allowing companies to hire foreign professionals at lower costs.
Speaking on the proposal, Crane said the federal government should prioritise employment opportunities for American citizens rather than protecting the interests of large corporations. He stated that the bill is intended to reform what he described as a “broken” visa system and ensure greater access to jobs for US workers.
The legislation has received backing from several Republican lawmakers, including Brandon Gill, Paul Gosar and Andy Ogles.
Under the proposed reforms, the annual H-1B visa cap would be reduced from 65,000 to 25,000. The bill also seeks to eliminate current exemptions and replace the lottery-based allocation process with a wage-based selection system.
One of the most significant provisions in the proposal is the introduction of a minimum salary requirement of 200,000 US dollars annually for H-1B workers. Employers would also have to certify that no qualified American worker is available for the position and confirm that they have not recently conducted layoffs.
The bill further proposes restrictions on H-1B employees by preventing them from holding multiple jobs and banning third-party staffing agencies from employing visa holders.
In addition, the legislation aims to prohibit H-1B workers from bringing dependents to the United States. It also calls for ending the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, widely used by international students for temporary work opportunities after graduation.
Another major provision would stop H-1B visa holders from transitioning to permanent residency through employment-based immigration pathways. The proposal also seeks to ensure that nonimmigrant visas remain temporary by requiring visa holders to leave the United States before changing their immigration status.
Supporters of the legislation claim the current system has been misused to replace American employees with cheaper foreign labour. Republican Congressman Paul Gosar alleged that the programme disadvantages domestic workers, while Andy Ogles said the reforms are necessary to protect American employment opportunities.
The proposal has also received support from immigration reform advocates. Immigration Accountability Project cofounder Rosemary Jenks described the legislation as one of the strongest H-1B reform bills introduced in Congress. She said the measures would restore the original purpose of the visa programme, which was intended to address temporary labour shortages.
The H-1B visa programme allows US companies to hire skilled foreign professionals in specialised sectors such as information technology, engineering, healthcare and finance. Indian professionals have historically been among the largest recipients of H-1B visas and form a major segment of the skilled workforce in the US technology industry.
The programme has remained a politically sensitive issue in the United States for years. Critics argue that it suppresses wages and reduces opportunities for local workers, while technology companies and industry groups maintain that the programme helps fill critical skill shortages and supports innovation and economic growth.
