A new bill has been introduced by Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) that proposes a three-year suspension of H-1B visas and aims to reform the program for its future reinstatement. This initiative is also backed by six other House Republicans.
The proposal, submitted on Wednesday, targets improvements for American workers by reintroducing the H-1B program with significant changes. During this suspension, existing visa holders will be required to leave the U.S.
The number of H-1B visas issued is set to decrease from 65,000 to 25,000. Moreover, current exemptions will be eliminated, and applicants will only be granted one three-year visa instead of two. It’s also important to note that applicants will have to maintain residency in a foreign country while agreeing to return home at the end of their visa term.
Employers face more rigorous requirements as well. They will need to demonstrate that they’re unable to find qualified U.S. workers for the positions, confirm that hiring foreign nationals will not adversely affect American workers, and prove they did not lay off employees in the past year or plan to do so in the upcoming year. Additionally, they must offer H-1B workers a salary of at least $200,000 a year.
If it passes, the bill would require U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to allocate H-1B visas based on the highest salaries offered, moving away from the lottery system currently in place.
Notably, H-1B visa holders would be restricted from working for multiple employers simultaneously, and third-party staffing agencies would also be barred from hiring them.
In a related note, the legislation aims to include a provision that would impose a fee of $100,000 for each foreign worker hired under the H-1B program.
Additionally, visa holders—such as H-1B, H-2A agricultural workers, and H-2B seasonal workers—will not be allowed to bring family members to the U.S., and government agencies will no longer be allowed to sponsor or hire nonimmigrant workers. Once they arrive in the U.S., these workers cannot change their immigration status without leaving the country first. H-1B workers will also be prevented from abusing the system by switching to student or tourist visas.
The bill has garnered support from several co-sponsors, including Representatives Brian Babin (R-TX), Brandon Gill (R-TX), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Wesley Hunt (R-TX), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Keith Self (R-TX), and Andy Ogles (R-TX).
On the Senate side, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) has also expressed his support for halting the H-1B programs.
