https://www.newsweek.com/h-1b-visas-changes-approved-white-house-report-2112216 Newsweek logo * U.S. * World * Science * Health * Life * Rankings * Opinion * Entertainment * Fact Check * My Turn * Education * EventsSportsPodcastsBetter PlanetBetter WorkplacesVaultMightier AutosNewslettersUnconventionalVantageExpertsVoices * Subscribe * [bell-notif] * Login * Newsweek logo # x Subscribe Login * U.S. * World * Science * Health * Life * Rankings * Opinion * Entertainment * Fact Check * My Turn * Education * Events * Sports * Podcasts * Better Planet * Better Workplaces * Vault * Mightier * Autos * Newsletters * Unconventional * Vantage * Experts * Voices [ ] Share Copy Link Link copied to clipboard! Politics * H-1B Visas * Trump administration H-1B Visas Changes Approved by White House: Report Published Aug 12, 2025 at 11:09 AM EDT CLOSE X By Robert Charles Alexander is the Senior Crime and Court Reporter for Newsweek based in London. He formerly worked as a Political Correspondent for the Local Democracy Service of the BBC, and is a lawyer. He is also the acclaimed author of seven published books, ranging from biographies to mountaineering and architectural history. His first book, The Inventor of Stereo - The Life and Works of Alan Dower Blumlein was dramatized for BBC Radio 4 in August 2008, and is now being turned into a major new movie for Universal Pictures Films. He is currently working on his eighth, ninth and tenth books. You can get in touch with Robert by emailing r.alexnader@newsweek.com. Languages: English, French, German. Writers Page Robert Alexander Senior Crime & Court Reporter Trust Project Icon Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member FOLLOW news article Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Share Copy Link Link copied to clipboard! Listen Translate * English (Original) * Espanol * Zhong Guo Ren * Francais * Deutsch * Portuguese * hindii Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies--please refer to the original content. Read original [] [Speed: 1x ] [1 ] [?] Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur. A proposed Department of Homeland Security rule that would alter how H-1B visas are allocated has cleared review by the White House's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), according to Bloomberg Law. Federal regulators cleared a proposed rule that would apply a "weighted selection process" by replacing the current random lottery with a new system that gives priority in the selection process to registrants who meet or exceed certain criteria, such as wage or education level. Newsweek reached out to the DHS and the OIRA for comment. Why It Matters The H-1B program supplies tens of thousands of specialty-occupation workers to U.S. employers each year and is heavily used by the technology sector. Any shift from a random lottery to a weighted, wage- or skill-based system could change hiring incentives for employers, affecting which foreign professionals obtain U.S. work authorization. The H-1B cap of 85,000 slots annually influences employers' ability to hire specialized foreign workers in fields including engineering, computer science and business specialties. Any change to the selection criteria could incentivize employers to offer higher wages to improve odds in a weighted system or change recruitment strategies. H-1B visa stock image Stock image of an H-1B visa. Stock image of an H-1B visa. Getty Images What To Know Federal review clearance by the OIRA typically preceded publication of a proposed rule in the Federal Register and a public comment period. The next step is a Federal Register publication, followed by a 30- to 60-day comment window and a multistep process before any final rule could take effect. The proposed weighted-selection concept echoes a 2021 DHS plan under President Donald Trump's first administration that had sought to rank and select petitions by wage tiers (OES wage levels IV down to I), an approach that the Trump administration argued would prioritize higher-paid, highly skilled hires. That earlier plan faced opposition, was withdrawn by the Biden administration and saw related regulations blocked in federal court. The Institute for Progress, a nonpartisan think tank examining innovation policy, earlier this year suggested eliminating the H-1B lottery. It argued that the economic value of the visa program could be increased by 88 percent if applicants were evaluated based on seniority or salary. The H-1B visa has come under increasing scrutiny since Trump assumed office in January, as the president's supporters have called into question the number of visas handed out to foreign nationals at what they claim is the expense of American workers. For example, Microsoft is under growing pressure to account for its H-1B visa requests while the company has issued major layoffs in recent months. The Washington-based tech giant applied for 9,491 H-1B visas during the last fiscal year, all of which were approved. The company has laid off nearly 16,000 people in total this year, out of a 228,000-strong global employee base. What People Are Saying U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency guidance, July 18, 2025: "USCIS has announced that it has received enough petitions to meet the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, also known as the master's cap, for fiscal year 2026." Immigration attorneys Fragomen LLP, in an August 11 article: "The next step for the proposal is publication in the Federal Register for public feedback." What Happens Next Industry advisers and regulatory watchers expected the administration to publish the proposed rule in the Federal Register, which would trigger a formal public comment period. A proposed rule overhauling the allocation of H-1B visas for specialty occupation workers was approved by a key White House office, signaling it may be released publicly soon. Newsweek Logo fairness meter fairness meter Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair. Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair. Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Click On Meter To Rate This Article Confirm your selection Comment on your rating Share Request Reprint & Licensing Submit Correction View Editorial & AI Guidelines Top stories [trump-bess] US Debt Reaches $37 Trillion Years Before Expected [tropical-s] Tropical Storm Erin Live Updates: Forecast Shows Potential Hurricane Will Hit Puerto Rico [fake-aid-w] Israel Conducts Deadly Strike Against 'Fake' Aid Workers in Gaza [dhs-ice-ca] Trump Admin DHS Account Accused of Referencing Avowed White Supremacist About the writer Robert Charles Alexander is the Senior Crime and Court Reporter for Newsweek based in London. He formerly worked as a Political Correspondent for the Local Democracy Service of the BBC, and is a lawyer. He is also the acclaimed author of seven published books, ranging from biographies to mountaineering and architectural history. His first book, The Inventor of Stereo - The Life and Works of Alan Dower Blumlein was dramatized for BBC Radio 4 in August 2008, and is now being turned into a major new movie for Universal Pictures Films. He is currently working on his eighth, ninth and tenth books. You can get in touch with Robert by emailing r.alexnader@newsweek.com. Languages: English, French, German. Writers Page Robert Alexander FOLLOW Share on TwitterShare on LinkedIn Robert Charles Alexander is the Senior Crime and Court Reporter for Newsweek based in London. He formerly worked as a Political Correspondent for the Local Democracy Service of the BBC, and is a lawyer. He is also the acclaimed author of seven published books, ranging from biographies to mountaineering and architectural history. His first book, The Inventor of Stereo - The Life and Works of Alan Dower Blumlein was dramatized for BBC Radio 4 in August 2008, and is now being turned into a major new movie for Universal Pictures Films. He is currently working on his eighth, ninth and tenth books. You can get in touch with Robert by emailing r.alexnader@newsweek.com. Languages: English, French, German. Robert Charles Alexander is the Senior Crime and Court Reporter for Newsweek based in London. He formerly worked as a ... Read more The Debate U.K., France Recognize Palestine--Will it Matter? 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