US Senator Introduces Bill to Pause H-1B Visas for Three Years, Codify $100K Petition Fee

Washington: US Senator Tim Sheehy has introduced a bill seeking a three-year pause on the issuance of new H-1B visas and to permanently codify the USD 100,000 fee imposed by the Trump administration, which was later struck down by a federal court.

The Republican senator from Montana said the US should not issue visas that make it easier to undercut the rights of American workers. The H-1B visa allows American firms to employ foreign workers in specialised fields requiring technical or theoretical expertise.

The proposed legislation aims to tighten restrictions on the H-1B programme, widely used by US companies to hire skilled foreign professionals. The programme is heavily relied upon by technology companies, which recruit thousands of professionals each year from countries such as India and China.