365telugu.com Online News,Hyderabad,October 1st,2025: The United States is preparing to significantly tighten regulations governing the H-1B and L-1 visa programs.
Three US Senators have introduced separate bills aimed at closing loopholes in the visa system, primarily with the goal of protecting American workers’ interests. These proposed changes are expected to have the most significant impact on Indian IT companies that heavily rely on these visas.
The Rationale Behind the Changes..
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) stated that many employers are misusing the H-1B and L-1 visas, which were intended to attract talent unavailable in the US.
Grassley noted that companies are allegedly prioritizing cheaper foreign workers. Durbin pointed out the unfair practice of large firms laying off American workers while filing visa applications for foreign workers at lower wages.
Key Proposed Changes to the H-1B and L-1 Programs..
The bill introduced by Grassley and Durbin seeks to..
Increase minimum wages and hiring standards.
Mandate recruitment of US workers for job openings.
Strengthen visa eligibility criteria.
The End of the H-1B Lottery..?
A major proposed reform involves eliminating the current H-1B lottery system in favor of a salary-based selection process. Under this system, workers earning the highest salaries (e.g., $162,528 annually) would receive four “lottery tickets,” granting them higher priority for selection.
Global Impact Focus on India and China..
The changes are particularly concerning for India, as data from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) shows that Indians receive about 71 percent of all H-1B visas. Indian IT giants like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro which heavily depend on this program could face losses amounting to billions. The new rules might compel them to either bring jobs back to India or significantly cut down on US hiring.