The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has taken an important decision regarding the H-1B visa program.
Earlier, the selection for this visa was mainly done through a lottery system. However, under the new rules, the salary offered for the job will also play a major role in the selection process.
This means applicants offered higher salaries will have better chances of being selected. The change is important for thousands of foreign professionals, especially those working in the IT sector, who hope to work in the United States.
New Form I-129 and Updated Rules
USCIS has introduced a revised version of Form I-129, which companies use when they want to hire foreign workers. The new form will come into effect from April 1, 2026.
Under the updated system, companies must provide more detailed information about the job and salary when hiring foreign employees. They will need to clearly explain the job role and compensation details.
Officials say these changes are intended to make the H-1B visa selection process more transparent and organized.
How Salary-Based Selection Will Work
According to the new rules, H-1B visa applicants will be divided into four salary levels:
Level 1: Entry-level jobs that require less experience
Level 2: Jobs requiring some professional experience
Level 3: Positions for experienced professionals
Level 4: Highly skilled roles requiring the most experience and responsibility
Applicants in Level 4 will receive four chances in the selection process, while those in Level 1 will get only one chance.
This system is expected to give an advantage to applicants applying for higher-paying and more specialized positions.
Changes in Job Information Requirements
Several updates have also been made to Form I-129. Companies will now need to provide more detailed job information, including:
Minimum educational qualifications required for the role
The specific field of study needed
Whether previous work experience is necessary
Whether the position involves supervising other employees
Impact on Companies and Workers
Form I-129 is used by companies to request permission to hire foreign employees to work temporarily in the United States. Under the new rules, companies must ensure that job details, salary information, and position descriptions remain consistent across all documents.
Experts believe the changes will:
Prioritize high-paying and specialized jobs
Improve transparency in the visa selection process
Reduce dependence on the traditional lottery system
Overall, the United States has introduced major changes to the H-1B visa system. Selection will no longer depend only on a lottery.
Instead, salary levels and job requirements will also influence who gets selected, giving higher-paid roles a stronger advantage in the process.
