US Representative introduces bill to pause H-1B visas for three years

US Representative Eli Crane said he has introduced a bill titled the “End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026,” outlining a proposal to pause the H-1B visa programme and introduce changes to its structure.In a post on X, Crane wrote, “Today, I introduced the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026. This bill pauses the program for three years and implements significant reforms once it resumes.” He added that “the federal government should work for hardworking citizens, not the profit margins of massive corporations.”

The key provisions of the proposed legislation include pausing the issuance of H-1B visas for three years, reducing the annual cap from 65,000 to 25,000, and eliminating the current lottery system in favour of a wage-based allocation.
Other measures mentioned in the graphic include codifying a $100,000 H-1B fee, restricting H-1B workers to a single employer at a time, and disallowing visa holders from bringing family members. The proposal also seeks to prohibit the federal government from sponsoring or employing nonimmigrant workers and to end Optional Practical Training (OPT) in all its forms.Additionally, the bill would bar H-1B visa holders from adjusting their status to lawful permanent residence and require nonimmigrants to leave the United States before changing from one nonimmigrant status to another.

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