The Donald Trump administration of the US is planning to replace the existing lottery process for issuing H-1B visas with a new ‘weighted’ (points-based) selection system.
Under this proposal of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), applicants for 85,000 H-1B visa seats will be selected on the basis of their qualifications and salary. In this new system, applicants with higher skills and higher salaries will be given priority. Since Indians are the biggest beneficiaries of H-1B visas, this change will directly and extensively affect Indian professionals.
H-1B Visa: Lottery vs Weighted System
Criteria Lottery system Weighted system
➤ Selection process Random, equal opportunity for all 4 levels of qualification, preference to more skilled
➤ Priority No special preference to anyone Priority to applicants with highest salaries
➤ Goal Fair process for all Applicants from less experienced and small companies excluded
➤ Concern Opportunity for low-paid ones too Opportunity for freshers and low-paid ones
Limited impact on Indians
Indian professionals have always been the biggest beneficiaries of the H-1B visa. In the fiscal year ending September 2023, 58% of the 68,825 initial employment visas issued were allotted to Indians. At the same time, 79% of the total 2.10 lakh visas, including extensions, were given to Indians. In comparison, China got 16,094 and 29,250 visas respectively.
Thus, this proposed change in the visa system will have a huge impact on Indian professionals. With the new system giving preference to applicants with higher salaries and more experience, opportunities in the US for Indian freshers and smaller companies may be limited. They may now face more competition to work in the US.
More skilled professionals will get preference
The proposed weighted system has a clear objective of bringing more skilled and higher paid professionals into the US workforce. It is based on the logic of benefiting the US economy. However, this change may create challenges for less experienced applicants and smaller companies that usually hire professionals at the entry level.
