H-1B Visa Update 2026: New Bill Aims to End Program

AT A GLANCE

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• The Bill: The EXILE Act aims to stop all H-1B visas by 2027.

• New Cost: Trump signed a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions.

• Impact: Over 80% of H-1B workers are from India or China.

• Status: Social media checks are now causing long visa delays in India.

US Lawmaker Files Bill to End H-1B Visas

A new bill in the US aims to kill the H-1B visa program for good. Specifically, Rep. Greg Steube filed the “EXILE Act” on Monday. However, this move has caused deep fear among Indian tech workers. Therefore, you should know how these new rules might change your career.

What is the EXILE Act?

First, the EXILE Act seeks to stop all new H-1B visas by 2027. Specifically, it would remove the legal path for skilled foreign labor. Then, the bill claims that US firms use the system to find cheap workers. Actually, the goal is to save more jobs for American citizens. Therefore, this bill is the most direct attack on the visa program in years.

The New $100,000 H-1B Fee

First, President Trump has already added a huge new cost for visas. Specifically, a $100,000 fee is now required for most new petitions. Then, this fee applies to workers who are currently outside the US. Actually, the high cost has forced many small firms to stop hiring from India. Therefore, the price of an H-1B visa has gone up by over 5,000 percent.

How Indian IT Firms are Affected

First, more than 70% of all H-1B visas go to Indian citizens. Specifically, firms like Microsoft and FedEx have already cut back on foreign staff. Then, the new rules favor only the highest-paid workers in the tech field. Actually, many mid-level roles may not get approved under the new wage rules. Therefore, Indian IT giants are now moving more work to offshore offices.

Social Media Checks and Delays

First, the US State Department now checks your online profiles. Specifically, they look at your posts on X, WhatsApp, and Facebook. Then, this extra vetting has pushed visa interviews back by several months. Actually, many Indians who went home for stamping are now stuck. Therefore, you must be very careful about what you share on social media.

H-1B Visa Rules 2024 vs 2026

Reality Check

Reality Check: The EXILE Act still needs to pass both the House and Senate. Still, the $100,000 fee is already a law and is active right now. In fact, most experts think the total ban will be hard to pass in 2026. Therefore, you should focus on the current fee and wage rules first. Recently, many US tech giants have filed lawsuits to stop these high costs. Now, the future of the H-1B program stays very uncertain for everyone.

The Loopholes

The Loopholes: The new $100,000 fee does not apply to simple visa renewals. Actually, if you already have a valid visa, you can still work in the US. In fact, some jobs in the “national interest” can get a fee waiver. Therefore, talk to an expert to see if your role qualifies for this break.

What This Means for You

Recently, the long delays have made it risky to travel home to India. Now, you should avoid leaving the US if your visa needs a new stamp. First, check your social media accounts for any risky or odd posts. Then, talk to your boss about how they will handle the $100,000 fee. Next, look into other visa paths like the L-1 or O-1 options. Indeed, the US immigration landscape is changing faster than ever before.

Next Steps

Check the latest visa interview wait times at the US Embassy in India. Then, read our guide on how to clean up your social media for a visa check. Would you like me to find the list of jobs that qualify for the “national interest” fee waiver?

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