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PROTECT Act of 2026: New H-1B Visa Rules and Higher Wages

This act sets a minimum salary of $100,000 for H-1B visa holders and prioritizes the highest-paid applicants to protect the domestic labor market. It also provides special fee exemptions for healthcare professionals to help fill critical staffing gaps when no qualified U.S. workers are available.
Key points
H-1B workers must be paid at least $100,000 per year or the local market rate for similar roles.
Visa approvals will prioritize job offers with the highest compensation levels over lower-paying ones.
Visas for assignments at third-party worksites are limited to a maximum duration of one year.
Healthcare workers are exempt from certain visa fees if the employer proves they could not find a qualified U.S. citizen.
The $100,000 minimum wage requirement will be adjusted annually based on inflation.
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Status:
Introduced
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Additional Information
PROTECT Act of 2026
Print number: HR 8335
Sponsor: Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]
Process start date: 2026-04-16