美国H1-B签证酝酿新规，高薪者先得？

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. visa policy is shifting towards favoring high-skilled and high-salary individuals, as evidenced by recent regulatory changes proposed by the Trump administration [1] Visa Policy Changes - The White House's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) has completed a proposed new rule from the Department of Homeland Security to change the H1-B visa allocation from a lottery system to a weighted system [1] - The H1-B visa allows U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations, with an annual cap of 85,000 visas, including 20,000 specifically for applicants with a master's degree or higher [1] Implications for Applicants - The proposed changes will prioritize applicants based on salary, job level, and educational background, potentially disadvantaging lower-income applicants [1] - Doug Rand, a senior official at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, indicated that the likelihood of the lowest-income quartile receiving lottery chances will decrease [1] Industry Insights - As of the latest report from USCIS, 64% of H1-B visas were issued to applicants in computer-related occupations, with Indian citizens accounting for 71% and Chinese citizens for 12% [4] - The new weighted system may favor higher-paid computer professionals, but the absolute salary amount is not the sole determining factor; salary levels within the occupation will be considered [4][5] Salary Level Considerations - The new rule will categorize jobs into four salary levels based on the Department of Labor's statistics, affecting the chances of applicants based on their salary relative to the prevailing wage for their occupation [5] - For example, a teacher earning $112,790 per year may have a higher chance of selection than a software engineer earning $135,699 if their salary meets the higher level criteria [5] Future Outlook - The proposed rule is not yet finalized and will undergo a public comment period before implementation, with potential effects on the H1-B lottery for the 2027 fiscal year [5] - Applicants are advised to communicate effectively with employers regarding job codes, salary, and requirements to enhance their chances under the new system [6] Additional Visa Considerations - F-1 visa holders will no longer be able to start new programs at the same or lower educational levels after completing their studies, impacting their options for further education [7] - Employers in academia and non-profit research institutions can apply for H-1B visas year-round without a lottery, and O-1 visas for individuals with extraordinary abilities have no cap [7]