Republican lawmakers in the United States have introduced a bill to suspend the H-1B visa program for 3 years, proposing sweeping changes to restrict the entry of foreign workers.
The legislation, titled the “End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026,” was introduced by Congressman Eli Crane and backed by seven other Republicans, aiming to overhaul the current system, according to the bill text.
The proposal would cut the annual H-1B visa cap from 65,000 to 25,000 and replace the lottery system with a wage-based selection process. It also sets a minimum annual salary threshold of $200,000 for foreign workers.
Under the bill, visa holders would be barred from bringing dependents to the United States, while employers would need to prove no qualified American worker is available before hiring foreign talent.
Crane said the measure is intended to prioritise domestic employment. “The federal government should work for hardworking citizens, not the profit margins of massive corporations,” he said in a statement.
The legislation also proposes ending the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program for foreign graduates, limiting their pathway to permanent residency and restricting federal agencies from employing nonimmigrant workers.
The bill follows a separate proposal introducing a $100,000 fee for new H-1B applications. Previous attempts to reform the program have faced opposition from trade groups and immigration advocates, and the current proposal is expected to face a prolonged legislative process in Congress
