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In a move aimed at reforming the US immigration system, the American government has announced the abolition of the long-standing H-1B visa lottery system. The new system, dubbed “Vied Selection,” will prioritize applicants with higher salaries and advanced skills, making it more challenging for entry-level professionals and young workers to secure US visas.
According to the US Department of Homeland Security, the new law is set to take effect on February 27, 2026, and will apply to the allocation of approximately 85,000 H-1B visas per year, starting from the 2027 fiscal year. The new system will eliminate the lottery system, which has been criticized for its misuse and favoritism towards companies that hire foreign workers at lower wages, impacting American workers.
The move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to tighten immigration policies, including the announcement of a major proposal for undocumented immigrants ahead of Christmas. The administration has stated that the decision is part of a series of measures, including a presidential order that requires companies to pay an additional $1 million per visa for H-1B workers.
Under the new system, visas will be allocated based on the qualifications and skills of applicants, rather than through a random lottery. This change is expected to benefit more skilled and higher-paid foreign workers, while making it more difficult for entry-level professionals to secure H-1B visas.
Amazon topped the list of companies receiving the most H-1B visas this year, followed closely by Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Apple, and Google. California has the highest number of H-1B workers, with the annual limit set at 65,000, and an additional 20,000 visas allocated for applicants with master’s or higher degrees.
In other news, a report by the United Nations has highlighted the economic crisis in Afghanistan, which has further complicated the lives of the Afghan people. In Bangladesh, Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus has confirmed that the country’s general elections will take place on schedule on February 12.
A small plane carrying seven passengers, including a patient, crashed into Galveston Bay in Texas, US, while en route to Houston Airport. The incident has raised concerns about aviation safety, particularly in the wake of a previous controversy involving a PTI minister’s statement that led to a nationwide aviation sector strike in 2018.
In Pakistan, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial has questioned the government’s lawyer about the unauthorized seizure of a property, asking how he would respond if the court were to issue an order without any basis.
In a separate incident, the plane carrying Libya’s Army Chief, Mohammed Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, crashed after taking off from Ankara, Turkey, and was later found. The plane was carrying five people, including the Army Chief.
In other developments, British security services have foiled a major plot to attack the Jewish community in Manchester, UK. Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz has announced that Israel will never leave the Gaza Strip. The US Department of Justice has released additional documents in the Epstein case, which includes videos and legal records.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has been arrested in London. Japan and China have escalated their diplomatic tensions, with China suspending 46 air routes for Japan for two weeks.
