A coalition of Republican legislators has introduced the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026, a comprehensive effort to reform the H-1B visa program. The proposed legislation aims to address the program's perceived exploitation by major corporations, which allegedly substitute American employees with less expensive foreign labor.
The bill, presented in the US Congress by Arizona Republican representative Eli Crane, has backing from a group of House Republicans. Key proposals include reducing the annual issuance of visas from 65,000 to 25,000, mandating a minimum salary of $200,000 for H-1B visa holders, and restricting dependents from accompanying visa holders.
The legislation also abolishes the Optional Practical Training program, prohibits federal agencies from sponsoring or employing non-immigrant workers, and eliminates the pathway to Green Card for H-1B holders.
Indian professionals, who represent one of the largest demographics of H-1B visa recipients, may face significant challenges due to the proposed changes. A decrease in the annual limit, along with a higher salary requirement and the elimination of dependent visas, would render the program less appealing for both workers and their families.
Immigration policy specialist Rosemary Jenks has described the bill as the strongest H-1B legislation ever introduced in Congress, with the potential to force companies to hire and train new American employees, ultimately decreasing reliance on foreign labor in the long run.
