Overview
- The bill, which was introduced Wednesday by Rep. Eli Crane with seven Republican co-sponsors, would halt new H‑1B visas for three years.
- After the pause, the plan cuts the annual cap to 25,000, ends exemptions, limits workers to a single three‑year term, and requires a foreign residence.
- USCIS would select petitions by highest pay instead of a lottery, and employers would have to offer at least $200,000 per year.
- Companies would need to attest they could not find a qualified U.S. worker and certify no recent or upcoming layoffs, with a $100,000 hiring fee written into law.
- The proposal also bars dependents and staffing‑agency placements, ends student OPT and H‑4 spousal work permits, blocks status changes inside the U.S., and would heavily affect Indian professionals and major tech employers if enacted.