Under the order issued on January 27, 2026, Texas public institutions will not be permitted to file new H-1B visa applications for foreign workers unless they receive written approval from the Texas Workforce Commission. The H-1B visa programme allows U.S. employers to hire highly skilled foreign professionals in specialised fields such as technology, engineering, medicine and research. The Texas directive affects public universities and state agencies — including research centres and academic medical facilities — that traditionally sponsor H-1B visas for professors, researchers and specialised staff. Current H-1B holders in Texas are not immediately affected by the freeze, and private sector employers remain outside the directive’s scope. However, universities, hospitals and agencies must now navigate the new approval process to file any future H-1B petitions.