The Trump administration has proposed raising minimum wages for H-1B and green card workers. The new rule would increase prevailing wage levels significantly — for example, entry-level (Level I) wages would rise from the 17th to the 34th percentile. This aims to protect American workers’ salaries and reduce misuse of the H-1B program by companies paying lower wages to foreign talent.

The H-1B lottery is changing in 2026. USCIS is replacing the random draw with a wage-based, weighted selection system. Here’s a simple breakdown of what’s changing, why it matters, and how it could affect your chances.

The fees announced in this notice are effective on or after January 1, 2026. Any immigration benefit request postmarked on or after January 1, 2026 without the proper filing fee will be rejected.

This guide breaks down what Form I-131 is, who needs it, how to apply, processing times, and common mistakes to avoid.