US moves closer to tougher H-1B wage norms after proposal clears federal review
Times of India
by LUBNA KABLYFebruary 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The United States is advancing plans to strengthen wage requirements for H-1B visa holders and employment-based green card applicants, a move that could significantly raise minimum salary thresholds for foreign workers. The proposed regulation, which modifies how prevailing wages are calculated, has cleared federal review and is expected to be published soon for public comment. This development follows years of debates over fair compensation for foreign employees in the U.S., with critics arguing that current wage frameworks undervalue skilled professionals.
Previous attempts to revise these rules under the Trump administration saw a 40% to 100% increase in required wages, but the measure was later withdrawn after legal challenges. Now, the Biden administration is pushing forward with its own version of revised wage norms, which could take effect as early as the 2027 H-1B cap season. The changes are particularly significant for Indian professionals, who make up the majority of H-1B visa holders and employment-based green card applicants in fields like technology and healthcare.
The proposed rules aim to align employer-sponsored salaries more closely with market rates, potentially making it harder for companies to hire foreign workers at lower wages. This shift could also influence employer strategies, as some are already considering alternatives like recruiting F-1 students or focusing on hiring within the U.S. The new framework may also introduce a wage-weighted selection system for H-1B visas, giving priority to applicants with higher prevailing wages.
For Indian professionals, these changes represent both opportunities and challenges. While they could lead to higher salaries and better working conditions, the increased costs of sponsorship might discourage some employers from hiring foreign workers. This dynamic is reshaping the U.S. job market and could have long-term implications for immigration policies under the Biden administration.
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/24/2026