Wage based selection shifts focus from luck to merit.
The United States has officially ended the random H-1B visa lottery and replaced it with a wage-based selection system, marking a decisive shift toward skill, role quality, and real labor market demand.
Under the new framework, H-1B applications will be prioritized based on salary levels set by the US Department of Labor. Higher wage offers signal specialized skills, stronger academic preparation, and roles that genuinely require global talent. The move is designed to curb misuse of the program while restoring its original purpose of attracting highly skilled professionals.
“Ethical employers lost access to capable talent, while the lottery increasingly rewarded those who were better positioned to exploit its loopholes.” said Aman Singh, Co-founder of GradRight.
For Indian students, this change carries a constructive message. Success will now depend less on chance and more on choosing rigorous academic programs, building in demand skills, and targeting high impact roles. Importantly, the revised system does not affect F-1 to H-1B transitions through OPT, keeping the pathway intact for students graduating from US universities.
“For Indian students considering U.S. education, this recalibration should be reassuring. The revised framework favors graduates of strong, outcome-oriented programs, particularly in STEM and applied disciplines. Low-value academic pathways which offer little beyond a foreign degree label, are likely to lose appeal.” said Aman Singh.
While competition may increase at the entry level, the long-term outlook is more predictable and transparent. For students focused on quality education, advanced specializations, and strong career outcomes, the H-1B reform strengthens the link between preparation and opportunity.
