US proposes stricter H-1B and green‑card rules affecting Indian workers and students

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Labor and State are expected to issue a Unified Regulatory Agenda in August that would tighten H‑1B, H‑4, student and employment‑based green‑card regulations. Proposed changes include limiting university and research exemptions, demanding detailed proof that H‑1B employees are directly controlled by the sponsoring firm, and imposing higher supplementary fees on employers with large workforces that rely heavily on H‑1B or L‑1 visas. Wage thresholds for employment‑based green‑card sponsorships could rise, raising the minimum salary levels employers must offer. For international students, the “duration‑of‑status” provision may be replaced with fixed stay periods, and stricter rules could apply to OPT, STEM‑OPT and CPT programs. The reforms would primarily impact Indian professionals, students and IT consulting firms that heavily use these visa categories, increasing costs and administrative burdens.