H-1B Lottery Ends: US Policy Shift Makes Jobs Harder for Students and Foreign Workers

A major change in the H-1B visa program in the United States is set to significantly impact foreign workers and international students, making it harder for them to secure jobs in the country.

The US Department of Homeland Security has announced a revision in the H-1B selection process. Under the new rules, visas will no longer be granted via a lottery system. Instead, priority will be given to applicants based on salary and skill level. The change is set to take effect from 27th February 2026.

What is the H-1B Visa?
The H-1B visa is used by US companies across sectors like technology, healthcare, finance, and education to hire specialized foreign workers. Each year, 65,000 visas are issued under the general category, with an additional 20,000 visas reserved for students who have earned a Master’s or higher degree from a US university. The visa is initially valid for three years and can be extended for another three years.

Impact on Students:
Over 300,000 Indian students and millions of other international students study in the US with the goal of securing employment on H-1B visas. However, the new rules favor applicants with higher salaries and prior work experience. Entry-level jobs, which typically offer lower salaries and require less experience, will become much harder for students to access.

H-1B applicants are now classified into four salary levels. Applicants at Level 4 (highest salary) will get four chances in the lottery, Level 3 candidates get three, Level 2 candidates get two, and Level 1 candidates (lowest salary) will have only one chance. Under the old system, the probability of selection across all levels was around 29.59%. With the new rules, the chances for Level 4 applicants increase by 107%, while those for Level 1 applicants drop by 48%.

What This Means:
Candidates with high skills and salaries will find it easier to secure H-1B visas. On the other hand, fresh graduates and students seeking entry-level jobs may face long waits and stiff competition. Companies may hesitate to hire them due to low salaries, and the few available positions are likely to attract massive applicant volumes, making the process even more challenging.

The shift marks a significant restructuring of the H-1B program, emphasizing skill and compensation over chance, and fundamentally changing the prospects for international students aiming to start their careers in the US.