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H-1B scare: Bill moved in US Cong to pause visa programme for 3 years. What it means for Indians
A group of Republican lawmakers in the US Congress introduced the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026, seeking a three-year suspension of the H-1B visa programme and significant reforms to reduce foreign worker intake. The bill targets H-1B operations, including a lower cap, higher salaries, and tighter controls on dependent visas, third-party staffing, and transitions to permanent residency.
Why It Matters
The proposed measures would affect Indian professionals who form a large share of H-1B recipients and could alter pathways to work in the United States and to permanent residency for many years. The move signals renewed scrutiny of skilled-immigrant programs and potential shifts in US tech hiring practices.
Timeline
1 Event
Introduction of the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026 in Congress
April 25, 2026
On April 25, 2026, Rep Eli Crane of Arizona introduced the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026 in the US Congress, with seven co-sponsors including Reps Brian Babin, Brandon Gill, Wesley Hunt, Keith Self, Andy Ogles, Paul Gosar, and Tom McClintock. The bill seeks a three-year suspension of the H-1B visa programme, cuts the annual cap from 65,000 to 25,000, sets a minimum salary of $200,000 per year, and would prevent H-1B holders from bringing dependents to the United States. It also proposes replacing the lottery with a wage-based selection process, requiring employers to confirm they cannot hire qualified American workers and have not carried out layoffs, prohibiting H-1B workers from holding multiple jobs, and restricting third-party staffing agencies. Additional provisions would bar federal agencies from hiring or sponsoring nonimmigrant workers, end OPT, reinforce the temporary nature of nonimmigrant visas by preventing H-1B holders from transitioning to permanent residency, and require nonimmigrants to leave the US before switching to another nonimmigrant visa category. Supporters argue the bill would expand access to jobs for Americans and tighten safeguards, while critics note potential constitutional concerns and impacts on Indian workers with long green-card backlogs. The article quotes supporters and critics, including Rahul Reddy, an immigration attorney, who discusses the legal feasibility of pausing a visa category and the potential need for affected H-1B workers to change status or depart.