The Trump administration is advancing a sweeping revamp of the H-1B visa program by shifting from a purely random lottery to a wage-based, weighted selection system. After imposing a $100,000 application fee on new H-1B visas, the administration is now proposing to prioritize high-paid and high-skilled roles, altering odds based on salary tiers, job locations, and role seniority.

Under the draft rules, the Department of Homeland Security has outlined a four-tier wage system, where applicants in the highest bracket (Level 4) will receive multiple entries in the pool, while those in the lowest bracket (Level 1) may only have a single chance. Employers in expensive metro areas (e.g. Silicon Valley) would face stricter salary thresholds compared to similar roles in lower-cost regions.

This proposed system could disadvantage early-career professionals, startups, or those in smaller markets, especially if their salaries don’t meet high thresholds. Critics warn companies might game the system by assigning roles or locations that lower the salary floor. The public comment period will test how these changes are refined before implementation, likely impacting the 2026 visa cycle.