The United States is set to roll out significant changes to its H-1B visa programme starting March 20, with the Foreign Labour Access Gateway (FLAG) deleting old applications to clear the way for a revamped system implemented by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to hire foreign workers in specialised fields requiring technical or theoretical expertise. Indian professionals account for nearly 70% of the 85,000 H-1B visas issued annually.
Despite pushback from some "America First" advocates, the Donald Trump administration — along with vocal supporter Elon Musk — has endorsed the H-1B program while aiming to make it more transparent and efficient through these reforms.
What’s changing
According to reports, any H-1B records older than five years will be permanently deleted from the system, with March 19 being the last day for employers to download these records. Additionally, all temporary labour condition applications will be wiped from the FLAG system on March 20.
The biggest shift, however, comes in the application process itself:
How will this impact workers and employers
These changes will affect all temporary labour condition applications, including H-1B, H-1B1, H-2A, H-2B, E-3 and PERM applications. The shift is expected to:
Create a fairer selection process by preventing large firms from manipulating the system with multiple filings. Increase costs for employers, pushing businesses to be more selective in hiring foreign workers. Speed up processing times through digitisation, eliminating outdated paper-based delays.
The H-1B debate remains politically charged, with some Trump loyalists criticizing the visa programme for allegedly displacing American workers — a stance that contradicts Trump’s ongoing support for the scheme.