Donald Trump Pushes Major Overhaul of H-1B Visa Rules

The US Department of Labour has proposed raising minimum wage requirements for workers employed under the H-1B visa programme by almost 30 per cent, increasing salary thresholds across all four employment levels.

The proposal, titled “Improving Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Foreign Nationals in the United States”, would revise salary benchmarks for foreign professionals working in the US under H-1B, H-1B1, E-3 and PERM labour certification programmes.

Under the current system, entry-level H-1B workers earn an average annual salary of $73,279. The proposed changes would raise that figure to $97,746, an increase of 33.39 percent. At the highest employment tier, minimum salaries would rise from $144,202 to $175,464, marking a 21.68 percent increase.

US officials said the existing wage standards are based on benchmarks introduced two decades ago and no longer reflect current labour market conditions. The administration argues that higher salary requirements would prevent foreign workers from being used to reduce wages for domestic employees, particularly in the technology sector where companies rely heavily on skilled overseas labour.

The proposal has received mixed responses. Supporters, including pro-MAGA groups, said the higher wage levels would strengthen protections for American workers. Critics warned that the changes could place additional financial pressure on smaller companies and discourage them from hiring foreign workers, especially for entry-level positions.

The Department of Labour has opened the proposal for public comment until 26 May. After reviewing submissions, the department will decide whether to finalise the rule. A similar proposal introduced during Donald Trump’s first term was later blocked in court after judges found that officials had not followed the required public consultation process.

If approved, the measure would represent one of the most significant changes to the H-1B visa system in recent years. Employers in sectors such as technology could face higher labour costs and tighter restrictions when recruiting foreign professionals.