End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026: New US Bill on H-1B Visa Rules

The United States House of Representatives saw the introduction of the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026 on 22 April 2026. The bill concerns the H-1B nonimmigrant visa, which is used by US employers to hire foreign professionals in speciality occupations.

H-1B Visa Framework

The H-1B visa is a temporary work visa under the Immigration and Nationality Act of the United States. It is generally issued for speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in fields such as information technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine.

• The current annual H-1B cap is 65,000 visas, with an additional 20,000 visas for holders of advanced degrees from US institutions.
• The visa is normally granted for an initial period of up to three years and can be extended to a maximum of six years in many cases.
• The existing H-1B system uses a lottery when applications exceed the annual cap.

Key Provisions in the Bill

• The bill proposes a three-year halt on issuing new H-1B visas.
• It sets a minimum annual salary of $200,000 for H-1B workers.
• It seeks to reduce the annual cap from 65,000 to 25,000 visas and remove existing exemptions.
• It limits H-1B visas to a single three-year term.
• It replaces the lottery system with a wage-based selection process.
• It requires employers to prove that qualified American workers are unavailable and that no recent layoffs of US employees have taken place.
• It bans third-party staffing firms from employing H-1B visa holders.
• It imposes a $100,000 fee for H-1B petitions, including petitions for job changes.
• It prohibits H-1B holders from bringing dependants and blocks transition to permanent residency.
• It requires nonimmigrant visa holders to leave the United States before changing visa status.
• It seeks to eliminate the Optional Practical Training programme, which allows certain foreign students in the US to work after graduation.

Legislative Process

A bill introduced in the US House of Representatives must pass both chambers of Congress and receive presidential assent before becoming law. The H-1B proposal remains at the introduction stage and has not become law.

Recent H-1B Changes

The H-1B system has already seen stricter rules and higher costs in 2026. A $100,000 fee for certain new H-1B applications took effect on 21 September 2025.