Job opportunity in US is now based on salary… H1B Visa rules changed… New system from April 1

New Delhi. America has taken a big decision regarding H-1B Visa. Now the selection for this visa will not be done only through lottery system. In the new system, job salary will also be made an important basis. This means that the job whose salary is higher will give the applicant more chances in the selection process. This change is considered important for thousands of foreign professionals who dream of working in America, especially those associated with the IT sector.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a new version of Form I-129, making changes in the rules related to H-1B visa. This new form will be applicable from 1 April 2026. Now companies will have to provide more clear information related to job and salary while inviting foreign employees to work in America. The purpose of the new process is said to be to make the selection system more transparent and systematic.

How will selection be done on the basis of salary in the new rule?

Under the new rule, H-1B visa applicants will be divided into four different salary levels. Level-1 will be for those jobs which are entry level and require less experience. Level-two will be for those posts in which some experience is considered necessary. Level-three will be for experienced professionals, while level-four is reserved for positions with the most experience and responsibility. Level-4 applicants will get four chances in the selection process, while level-1 applicants will get only one chance.

What changes have been made to Form I-129?

USCIS has also made several changes to Form I-129. Now companies will have to provide more information about jobs than before. They will have to tell what is the minimum educational qualification for that post, in which subject study is necessary and whether previous experience is necessary for that work. Along with this, it should also be clarified whether the job involves the responsibility of looking after others or not.

What impact will the new rule have on companies and employees?

According to USCIS, Form I-129 is used by companies to seek permission to bring foreign employees to work in the US temporarily. After the implementation of the new rules, companies will have to provide the same information related to job, salary and position in all documents. It is believed that this will give priority to higher paying and more specialized jobs. Also, transparency in the selection process will increase and dependence on lottery system will reduce.

America has made a major change in H-1B visa rules. Now the selection will not be based only on lottery but will also be decided on the basis of job salary. Applicants will be divided into four salary levels and applicants for higher paying positions will have more opportunities for selection. Along with this, USCIS has released a new version of Form I-129, which will be effective from April 1, 2026.