A new system for issuing US Visas instead of the Green Card system is announced.

News reports indicate that the United States has decided to implement a new registration process for H-1B visas. Under this new proposal, while the current lottery system will be completely abolished, a new mechanism has been introduced to prioritize foreign workers with higher wages or advanced professional skills.

The US Department of Homeland Security has announced this decision.

This new regulation is scheduled to become effective on February 27, 2026, and will apply from the H-1B visa filing period in 2027. The main reasons for this change are, on the one hand, to protect the interests of domestic American workers, and on the other hand, to facilitate American employers in recruiting necessary skilled foreign professionals. The H-1B program allows for the recruitment of foreign professionals in specialized fields such as technology, engineering, and software, with an annual cap of 65,000 visas. In addition, 20,000 visas have been set aside for American advanced degree holders, but it has been observed that the current lottery system is not sufficiently transparent.

Under the proposed new framework, visa applicants will not be chosen randomly, but instead, a tiered system will be followed based on the wage level of the applicants and their specialized skills. For this reason, while professionals applying for positions with higher wages and skills are likely to receive visas, those applying for lower-wage positions may still have a chance, but their chances of being selected will be limited. Immigration officials point out that this measure is a key step in preventing employers from submitting a large number of applications for lower-wage positions under the previous lottery system.

The publisher of American Prospect and the Center for Immigration Services, Matthew Tragesser, states that these changes are likely to be well-received by Congress, which has long been critical of the H-1B program, and that America's competitiveness will increase. It is expected that this new system will facilitate the recruitment of foreign skilled workers into the American workforce. In this regard, employers are expected to increase wages or specialize job roles to make visa acquisition easier. While this is beneficial for professionals with higher wages, it is also thought that lower-wage applicants will face tougher competition.

This new regulation also includes a section on the Trump administration's efforts to increase oversight of the H-1B program. It also includes a policy requiring employers to pay a fee of $100,000 for a visa petition to ensure fairness. American officials further note that additional reforms may be implemented in the future, given the ongoing criticism of the H-1B program regarding wages, skills, and business needs.