The Trump administration is preparing a fresh wave of restrictions on the H-1B visa program, pushing beyond the recently imposed $100,000 fee for new petitions.  Under current law, the U.S. issues 65,000 H-1B visas annually, with an additional 20,000 reserved for holders of U.S. master’s or higher degree. 

According to the Department of Homeland Security’s draft proposals, reforms may tighten the definition of “specialty occupation,” narrow which employers qualify for cap exemptions, and subject third-party placements to greater scrutiny. Employers with prior violations of labor rules may also face stricter oversight. 

Supporters argue the moves are needed to safeguard U.S. workers’ wages and prevent misuse of the program. But critics warn such sweeping changes, layered atop the new fee, could hinder innovation, constrain hiring in healthcare and universities, and stymie foreign talent migration. 

As these proposals advance toward formal notice and comment, stakeholders in tech, academia, and immigration advocacy are already preparing for legal and public pushback.