The Trump administration has unveiled a proposal to revamp the H-1B visa selection system, giving preference to highly skilled and better-paid applicants. The announcement comes days after a White House directive, issued on Friday, introduced a dramatic fee increase for H-1B applications. The H-1B scheme allocates 65,000 visas each year for companies hiring temporary foreign professionals in specialised roles, along with an additional 20,000 visas reserved for those holding advanced degrees. According to the notice, overall salaries for H-1B visa holders are projected to rise to $502 million in the 2026 fiscal year, beginning October 1. However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimates that around 5,200 small businesses relying on H-1B visas could face considerable financial strain due to reduced access to foreign workers.