This bill would impose significant restrictions on the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations. The legislation would halt all new H-1B visa issuances for three years while simultaneously implementing sweeping reforms intended to restrict the program's use. The bill would cut the annual H-1B visa cap from approximately 85,000 to 25,000, reduce visa validity from six years to three years, impose a $100,000 fee per H-1B petition, and raise the minimum wage requirement for H-1B workers to $200,000 annually. Additionally, the bill would eliminate the diversity lottery system for allocating visas and replace it with a wage-based priority system, prohibit H-1B workers from being employed by staffing agencies, prevent federal agencies from hiring H-1B workers, and eliminate optional practical training and other work authorization programs for foreign students. The legislation would also bar most temporary visa holders from adjusting their status to permanent residency while in the United States, effectively preventing a pathway to citizenship for H-1B workers and other temporary visa holders.
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