Concerns About the H-1B Visa Program

Reflecting on my experiences from a quarter-century ago as a consular official in India during my first interview for an H-1B visa, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was quite wrong with the program. I recently published a report and chatted with some experts about the state of H-1B visas at an event hosted by the Heritage Foundation.

There’s a shared view among the panelists that the H-1B visa has diverged from its intended purpose and needs serious reforms to ensure American workers are prioritized.

The U.S. Department of Labor designated H-1B visas for workers in “specialized occupations,” helping employers who genuinely struggle to find necessary skills in the domestic workforce. Yet, employers seem to sidestep proving they can’t locate qualified Americans—sometimes they don’t even try.

It’s interesting to note that while I’ve met some truly remarkable visa applicants over the years, many are just average college graduates. Most H-1B workers earn less than the median salary for their roles. If they were indeed exceptional, why are companies offering them lower pay compared to American workers?

As explained by Amanda Bartolotta, Ron Hira, Mark Krikorian, and Kevin Lin, there’s no actual shortage of talent or STEM-qualified individuals in the U.S. Sure, some colleges aren’t doing a great job matching graduates with the job market, evidenced by new grads facing double the national unemployment rate, despite Ford Motor Co. announcing they need 5,000 mechanics at $120,000 a year. Still, we can tackle these challenges without sidelining Americans or flooding the market with foreign labor.

Today, the introduction of AI is shaking up the job landscape. It leaves one wondering—what jobs will even remain? So, why should we give preference to foreign candidates right now?

Students from China and India can pursue education at lower costs back home and even earn advanced degrees with less debt than American students, who often graduate with crippling loans. As a result, they’re unable to accept the same low salaries as H-1B visa holders. By allowing this competition, we not only discourage Americans from entering lucrative fields but also foster a reliance on cheap labor.

For instance, Amazon reported cutting over 30,000 jobs in 2025 while receiving more than 10,000 H-1B approvals in the same year. Has any effort been made to retrain or find new roles for American workers? This trend seems prevalent across many large companies, hiring abroad while letting go of domestic employees.

The reality is that the actual need for highly skilled workers in the largest U.S. corporations is quite small—think a bus full, not a stadium. And, naturally, companies should be prepared to offer higher pay for exceptionally talented individuals.

While AI companies are willing to pay astonishing signing bonuses to attract the right talent, they also maintain the same willingness to compensate necessary foreign workers generously.

Some policymakers are pushing for an increase in foreign worker visas, arguing that Americans should be ready to compete on a global stage for jobs. Personally, I disagree.

For decades, Congress has made half-hearted adjustments to the H-1B program in a misguided effort to protect American workers, but these efforts have fallen short. H-1B visas are often used to replace American employees, and experts agree that this is by design, not coincidence.

Those against changing the H-1B program are gathering support. It’s a diverse, nonpartisan coalition aiming to quash any opposition towards the introduction of foreign workers who compete on inequitable terms with U.S. graduates and workers.

Yet, there’s also a conservative coalition that shares a commitment to providing job opportunities for young Americans. Even if they don’t have much in common with others like Sen. Bernie Sanders, they want to ensure a positive future for the nation’s youth. With some backing from labor-friendly groups, a significant reform package could pass Congress to curtail excessive labor imports.

Realistically, we need to protect both technological and industrial integrity by ensuring that U.S. companies have very limited channels to hire a small number of exceptional temporary workers, with strict rules and high qualifications in place.

It’s vital that we keep the American Dream alive and create chances for everyone within the country. If we don’t, there’s a risk that socialist rhetoric will lure young people towards disillusionment rather than the promise of a better future.

We have a unique opportunity to implement major changes that prioritize the prospects of American graduates and workers. It’s time we focus on providing opportunities for Americans. Let’s make it happen.