The United States Department of Labor (DOL) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently unveiled changes to the H-1B visa program that might significantly impact international hiring. The changes include salary insecurities, alterations to the lottery system, and increased scrutiny for third-party locations. They specifically target roles filled by H-1B workers at third-party locations and IT consulting firms or "staffing firms", aiming to reduce their reliance on foreign labor. These changes are expected to make it more expensive for companies to employ foreigners on H-1B visas by considerably raising their required wage levels. Regulatory bodies predict a hit to healthcare, higher education, and nonprofit research organizations. Legal challenges to the new rules are expected, and smaller firms or those with a high dependence on H-1B workers may be put under considerable pressure.
