Elijah Crane

A fresh legislative push in the United States has brought the future of the H-1B visa programme into sharper focus. A group of Republican lawmakers has formally introduced a bill in Congress seeking a temporary halt and major restructuring of the visa system widely used by skilled foreign workers.

The proposal, titled the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026, has been introduced by Eli Crane and is being seen as one of the most aggressive attempts yet to curb the programme. The move builds on earlier signals from the Trump administration that immigration policies, particularly those linked to employment, would face tighter scrutiny.

What the bill proposes

The legislation outlines a series of significant changes that could reshape the H-1B system.

It calls for a three-year freeze on new H-1B visas and proposes reducing the annual cap from 65,000 to 25,000. It also introduces a steep minimum salary requirement of $200,000, a move aimed at restricting the programme to only the highest-paid roles.

In addition, the bill seeks to bar visa holders from bringing dependents and prevent them from transitioning to permanent residency. Federal agencies would also be prohibited from hiring nonimmigrant workers, while the Optional Practical Training programme would be scrapped altogether.

These measures, taken together, signal a shift toward making the visa strictly temporary and far more restrictive than its current form.

Political backing and rationale

The bill has drawn support from several Republican lawmakers, including Brian Babin, Brandon Gill, Wesley Hunt, Keith Self, Andy Ogles, Paul Gosar and Tom McClintock.

Explaining the intent, Crane said, according to PTI: "The federal government should work for hardworking citizens, not the profit margins of massive corporations. We owe it to the American people to prevent the broken H-1B system from boxing them out of jobs they are qualified to perform."

Supporters argue that companies have been using the programme to replace American workers with lower-paid foreign professionals.

Echoing that sentiment, Gosar said the programme has been: "hijacked to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labour - plain and simple."

Gill also backed the proposal, stating: "I am proud to cosponsor Rep Eli Crane's efforts to reform and tighten our H-1B visa system, ensuring that our immigration system serves American workers first before foreigners."

“Strongest bill” yet against H-1B

Immigration policy expert Rosemary Jenks, who helped draft the bill, described it as a landmark proposal.

"This is the strongest H-1B bill that has ever been introduced in Congress. H-1B visas were sold to the American people as short-term visas to fill temporary labour gaps, while Americans are trained to take those jobs," she said.

Jenks argued that limiting extensions would force companies to invest in hiring and training domestic workers, even if it increases costs in the short term.

Impact on Indian professionals

Indian workers, particularly in the technology and healthcare sectors, are among the largest beneficiaries of the H-1B programme. Any tightening of the system is therefore likely to have a disproportionate impact on them.

The proposed salary threshold and visa cap reduction could significantly limit opportunities for Indian professionals seeking roles in the United States. Restrictions on dependents and pathways to permanent residency may further reduce the attractiveness of the programme.

The bill also follows earlier measures under Donald Trump, including a $100,000 fee on new H-1B applications, which had already caused anxiety among visa holders.

What happens next

The introduction of the bill marks the beginning of what could be a contentious debate in Congress. While it has strong backing among certain Republican lawmakers, it is likely to face opposition from industry groups that rely heavily on global talent.

For now, the proposal signals a clear direction in US immigration policy, with a stronger emphasis on domestic employment and tighter controls on foreign labour programmes.

For thousands of professionals, especially from India, the outcome of this legislative push could shape future career prospects in the United States.