“Regrettably, it remains likely…”: Immigration Specialist Discusses Trump’s Administration’s Suggested Modifications to H-1B Lottery

H-1B Wage-Based Lottery Changes Under Trump Administration

As the Trump administration advances plans to modify the H-1B lottery system by introducing a wage-based selection process, immigration expert Jeremy Neufeld weighs in on the implications of these changes. Neufeld serves as the immigration policy director at the Institute for Progress.

The Impact of Wage-Based Selection

Neufeld expressed significant concerns regarding the prioritization of seniority over skills in the proposed system. He stated, “Unfortunately it will still be a lottery, and weighted by seniority instead of higher-skilled occupations.” This could lead to lower-skilled workers having enhanced chances of selection.

Examples of Disparity in Selection Chances

Neufeld provided specific examples to illustrate the disparities in selection: an acupuncturist in Ohio earning $68k (Level IV) could have four times the chances of winning the lottery compared to a pediatric surgeon earning $260k in Pennsylvania (Level I). Additionally, an IT worker making $95k (Level II) would have twice the advantage over a junior computer hardware engineer at TSMC making $130k (Level I).

Similarly, an HR specialist earning $85k (Level III) would be 1.5 times more likely to be selected than an aerospace engineer making $140k (Level II).

Understanding the Proposed Weighted H-1B Lottery

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed changes to the regulations governing H-1B visa selections. The new weighted selection process is designed to prioritize higher-skilled and higher-paid applicants while still allowing employers to hire H-1B workers across all wage levels.

The proposal includes four wage levels: Level 4 (highest wage) to Level 1 (entry level). Applicants at Level 4 will have four chances to win in the lottery, Level 3 applicants will have three chances, Level 2 applicants will have two, and Level 1 applicants will have only one chance.