The US has overhauled its H-1B work visa system, prioritising skills and higher salaries over pure lottery, a move expected to significantly boost chances for Pakistani IT and professional workers.
WEBDESK – Imran Malik – MediaBites
ISLAMABAD: In a major development for Pakistani professionals aiming to work in the United States, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced sweeping changes to the H-1B work visa selection system, shifting it away from pure lottery toward a skills- and salary-weighted model.
Under the new rule, finalised by DHS, H-1B visas will no longer be awarded solely on random selection. Instead, candidates offered higher-skilled roles and higher wages will be prioritised, a move experts say could significantly improve prospects for Pakistani IT professionals, engineers, doctors, and other specialists.
When will the new system start?
The revised framework will take effect on February 27, 2026, and will be implemented from the FY2027 H-1B registration season. Immigration experts describe the change as a potential game-changer for thousands of Pakistani applicants who apply for H-1B visas each year.
Why the change matters for Pakistanis
Until now, the H-1B process has relied almost entirely on a lottery because applications far exceeded the annual cap. This meant highly skilled Pakistani candidates were treated the same as entry-level applicants, drawing long-standing criticism.
US officials say the old system increasingly favoured employers seeking lower-paid foreign labour, undermining the program’s original goal of attracting top global talent. For Pakistani professionals, this often meant losing out despite strong qualifications and international experience.
How the new selection will work
Under the revised rules:
- Each application will be assessed using US Department of Labor wage data
- Higher-wage job offers will receive greater weight in the selection pool
- Applications at top wage levels may be entered multiple times, increasing selection chances
- Lower-wage roles will still be eligible, but with fewer entries
In practical terms, Pakistani candidates with high-paying US job offers—especially in IT, software engineering, data science, cybersecurity, healthcare, and engineering—will now have a much stronger chance of selection.
One registration per candidate
DHS has also confirmed that each applicant will be counted only once per year, even if multiple US employers submit registrations. This aims to curb abuse by companies that previously filed dozens of entries for the same candidate to boost lottery odds.
Mixed reactions, but optimism for skilled workers
While some critics argue the changes may disadvantage startups and lower-wage sectors, US officials insist the system remains balanced. Immigration experts in Pakistan say the reform encourages young professionals to upgrade skills, target better-paid roles, and align with global market standards.
For many Pakistani skilled workers, the message is clear: merit, expertise, and compensation now matter more than luck in the race for an H-1B visa.
1 Comment
Ugh, passwords are the worst. Luckily, this jili7loginpassword site helped me reset mine for JILI7. Much appreciated!