H-1B Visa Shift to Wage-Based Selection Sparks Concerns Among Indian Techies
The US is replacing its H-1B lottery with a wage-based selection process, a shift that could benefit highly paid professionals but restrict opportunities for entry-level Indian tech workers.
Indian tech workers, who make up over 70% of H-1B visa recipients, could see major changes as the US moves to a wage-based system.
Opportunities for Indian tech workers may change as a result of the United States' planned overhaul of its H-1B visa program, which will replace the outdated lottery system with a wage-based selection model.
Indian nationals continue to be the program's biggest beneficiaries, obtaining 191,000 H-1B visas in FY 2023 and roughly 207,000 in FY 2024, according to official data. The majority are employed in engineering, software, and IT consulting positions.
Visas will be awarded based on the highest salaries offered under the new plan, which has been approved by the White House and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This could favour senior and well-paid professionals. However, many entry-level Indian workers join US companies on modest packages, and this change may limit their opportunities.
Currently, the H-1B program uses a random lottery to distribute 85,000 visas per year, including 20,000 for holders of advanced degrees from US universities. The wage-based system reflects a proposal made during the Trump administration to give higher salaries priority in order to prevent fraud and guarantee that top talent receives visas.
Effects on Indian Employees
According to immigration experts, the shift may encourage employers to raise wages in order to increase the likelihood of being selected. However, the chances may be more difficult for recent graduates and early-career Indian tech workers. The new system might be operational by the March 2026 application window for the FY 2027 cap, barring legal challenges.
Internet Responses
Online reactions to the announcement have been conflicting. Citing purported system abuse by dishonest consultants, some users contended that the US does not require "low-paid, entry-level H-1Bs." Others cautioned that comparing talent only to pay ignores industry variations and runs the risk of excluding worthy applicants.
"It's the classic 'need experience to get a job, but can't get a job without experience' trap," one user complained. Another proposed that local talent should be given preference for entry-level positions, while immigration should be saved for specialised roles.
