The U.S. will open registrations for the highly sought-after H-1B visa in about a month. Each year, the visa category receives over five times as many applications as the number of visas available. Companies that rely on H-1B to bring staff to the U.S. start preparing for these applications months in advance.
But this time, it’s different.
The coveted U.S. H-1B visa — once considered a quick ticket to the American dream — has had a tumultuous few months.
Since September last year, President Donald Trump has announced several changes to the visa category, which allows highly skilled immigrants to live and work in the U.S. for up to six years. From higher costs to increased scrutiny in the process, the uncertainty has made applicants and companies wary.
Rest of World spoke to leading immigration lawyer Poorvi Chothani to understand the behind-the-scenes challenges of getting an H-1B visa in 2026.
