US to change H-1B Visa process, replace ‘lottery’ with ‘lottery system’

The US announced on Thursday that it will change the selection process for H-1B visas and the new process will replace the existing lottery process with salaries and skills (Salary & Skills). Officials said that the final rules will be published in the Federal Register on January 8. They said that its purpose is to protect the economic interests of American workers. At the same time, it is also to ensure that the temporary employment program benefits foreign workers with high efficiency.

The H-1B Visa is a non-immigrant visa, which allows US companies to hold foreign employees in specific positions. America’s technology companies appoint thousands of employees every year from India and China on the basis of this visa.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Service said that amendments to the H-1B visa selection process would encourage employers to issue applications to higher salaries and higher positions. At the same time, it will pave the way for companies to keep employees as per need and keep themselves competitive on a global scale.

The final rules will take effect 60 days after being published in the Federal Register. The next phase of applying for the H-1B visa program is starting from April 1.

USCIS deputy director for policy Joseph Adlow said, “Employers are misusing the H-1B temporary visa program. They are primarily using it to fill entry-level positions and reduce their business costs.”