US is planning a sweeping overhaul of the H-1B programme, the Green Card system as well as student and cultural exchange visas in a bid to curb what it calls “visa abuse”.
Over the past few weeks, senior Trump administration officials have criticised the existing visa regime and signalled major changes to the programmes in the coming days. For instance, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has described the current H1B visa system as "a scam" that lets foreign workers fill American job opportunities. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis echoed the view, saying that most H-1B beneficiaries are "from one country, India."
This comes at a time when MAGA supporters and some Republican politicians are campaigning online and in the media against Indian H-1B workers, claiming they take jobs from Americans
The proposals, aimed at tightening immigration and prioritising American workers, could have far-reaching consequences for Indian professionals and international students. Here's a look at the proposed changes to each visa programme:
H-1B visa overhaul
The Trump administration plans to scrap the lottery-based system and replace it with a wage-driven model. Under the new framework, visas would be prioritised for the highest-paid and most highly skilled applicants. This will effectively shut out many mid-level workers and smaller companies.
With over 70% of H-1B visas currently going to Indians, particularly in IT services, the changes could sharply reduce opportunities for Indian professionals, especially fresh graduates and those employed by startups or smaller firms.
Currently, highly-skilled professionals from India benefit from an overwhelming number of H-1B visas – which is Congressional mandated 65,0000 every year and another 20,000 for those who received higher education from US.
Green Card reforms
Lutnick also said the administration intends to reshape the existing green card allocation system which provides permanent residency in US. He criticised the current criteria which admits "lower-earning migrants" compared to the average American.
“You know, we give green cards. The average American makes $75,000 a year, and the average green card recipient $66,000, so we're taking the bottom quartile, like, why are we doing that? That's why Donald Trump is going to change it. That's the Gold Card that's coming. And we're going to start picking the best people to come into this country. It's time for that to change,” he said.
Under the proposed ‘Gold Card’ plan, US will offer permanent residency in exchange for a $5 million investment. The proposal marks a shift towards investment- and skill-based migration, away from the family- and employer-sponsored pathways that have historically dominated the system.
Student and Exchange Visitor Visas
A proposed regulation would set fixed time limits on student (F), exchange visitor (J) and media (I) visas. Currently, these visas are issued for the duration of a programme or employment, but the new rule would limit student and exchange visitor visas to a maximum of four years.
Media visas, meanwhile, would be capped at 240 days, with Chinese nationals restricted to just 90 days. Visa holders could apply for extensions, but the proposal signals tighter oversight and monitoring of foreign students, exchange workers and journalists.
According to US government data, there are about 1.6 million international students on F visas in the country in 2024. US granted visas to about 355,000 exchange visitors and 13,000 members of the media in 2024, which began on October 1, 2023.
Impact on Indians and global talent
The Trump administration’s crackdown on visa programmes is part of a broader policy shift aimed at tightening immigration and prioritising jobs for American workers.
The proposed changes will have a significant impact on foreigners, particularly for India which sends the largest number of H-1B workers and international students to US. Analysts warned that wage-first visa rules may drive US firms to expand operations offshore in India or rely more on remote work.
For international students, capped visa durations will add uncertainty, while aspiring professionals may find pathways to permanent residency more restrictive. Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), said that the reforms will threaten civil liberties and risk undermining America’s long-standing role as a hub for global talent and innovation.
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