New Delhi, Dec. 24 -- The Trump administration has rolled out the most far-reaching overhaul of the United States' H-1B skilled worker visa programme in more than a decade, dismantling the random lottery system, operationalising a $100,000 annual visa fee and expanding social-media vetting for applicants. Announced and implemented across different points in 2025, the changes collectively redefine how the US selects, prices and scrutinises foreign professional talent.

In December 2025, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the long-standing random selection model for H-1B visas would be replaced with a weighted system prioritising higher-paid and higher-skilled workers. The final rule, issued through US Citizenship and Immigr...