Overview

• The DHS proposal would replace the random lottery with wage-based tiers, giving top-paid applicants four entries and the lowest tier one entry when demand exceeds the 85,000 cap.
• The White House’s $100,000 charge is a one-time fee for new H-1B petitions only, not for current holders or renewals, following a weekend clarification.
• Employers report pausing recruitment and reassessing budgets, with immigration attorneys saying some Fortune 100 firms are exploring offshoring; Accenture is proposing a new campus in India, according to reports.
• Indian nationals account for roughly 71% of H-1B beneficiaries, prompting concern from India’s government and NASSCOM over disproportionate impacts on workers and companies.
• Business reaction is split, with CEOs such as Jamie Dimon saying the move caught companies off guard and immigration lawyers predicting lawsuits that could delay or block parts of the policy.