Washington, August 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Trump administration has begun reviewing a new proposal to overhaul the H-1B visa program, potentially bringing significant changes to the employment route widely used by Indian professionals in the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has submitted the proposed regulation, titled “Reforming the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program”, for review by the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). The proposal, identified by RIN 1615-AD00, is classified as an economically significant regulatory action and remains under review.
The detailed provisions have not yet been made public. However, the administration's regulatory agenda says the proposal would revise eligibility for certain cap exemptions, increase scrutiny of employers that have violated program requirements and strengthen oversight of third-party placements. The stated aim is to improve program integrity and protect US workers' wages and working conditions.
The current review does not itself change H-1B rules, and employers and visa holders are not required to take action at this stage. If cleared, the proposal would normally be published in the Federal Register, followed by a public-comment period before DHS considers issuing a final rule.
The broader overhaul is separate from another proposed rule concerning an additional $103,265 fee on each cap-subject H-1B petition. OIRA has already completed its review of that fee proposal, with the action recorded as “consistent with change”.
The administration is also reviewing proposed fees for Optional Practical Training, which allows foreign students to work temporarily in fields related to their studies. That proposal is currently pending OIRA review.
Separately, DHS is reviewing a proposal to eliminate the discretionary 60-day grace period that can allow certain H-1B and other foreign workers to remain in the US after losing employment while seeking a new job or changing immigration status.
The H-1B program allows US employers to hire foreign professionals for specialty occupations requiring specialized knowledge and generally at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Congress currently sets the annual cap at 65,000 visas, with an additional 20,000 available to eligible holders of advanced degrees from US universities.