President Trump Extends Restrictions on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers to Combat H-1B Visa Program Abuses
President Trump has extended the restrictions on the entry of certain nonimmigrant workers for an additional 12 months, until September 21, 2027. This action continues Proclamation 10973, originally issued on September 19, 2025, which aimed to address significant abuses within the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program. The administration asserts that while the initial restrictions have been effective, the underlying conditions necessitating them persist. The H-1B program, intended for high-skilled temporary workers, has been criticized for being exploited by some employers, particularly IT staffing and outsourcing firms, to replace American workers with lower-paid labor. The extension maintains a requirement for a $100,000 payment for H-1B petitions, with limited exceptions, and continues to prioritize higher-skilled and higher-paid workers through a weighted selection process implemented by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Department of Labor (DOL) is also in the process of rulemaking to improve wa...