Overview
- U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ruled the presidential proclamation imposing a $100,000 charge on new H‑1B applications is lawful, allowing the fee to be enforced.
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other plaintiffs said they are weighing appeals, and separate state and industry lawsuits over the fee remain active.
- DHS and USCIS finalized a rule replacing the random H‑1B lottery with a wage‑ and skill‑weighted selection that grants more entries to higher wage levels and begins with FY2027 registration in late February 2026.
- The statutory cap of 65,000 visas plus 20,000 for U.S. advanced‑degree holders is unchanged, so lower‑paid applicants remain eligible but face reduced selection odds under the new system.
- Officials cite past abuse of the lottery and add safeguards against wage inflation, duplicate registrations, and inconsistent job or location data, as expanded consular vetting is already delaying interviews at Indian posts.