US H-1B Visa Overhaul 2026 Raises Costs, Tightens Rules for India, China, Philippines, South Korea

The 2026 overhaul of the US H-1B visa program has introduced significantly higher sponsorship costs and stricter compliance requirements, disproportionately affecting professionals from India, China, the Philippines, and South Korea.

Under the new rules, employers face increased fees for filing petitions and additional costs for compliance measures, including mandatory site visits and enhanced documentation. The changes aim to reduce fraud and ensure that H-1B workers are paid prevailing wages.

Applicants from India, which accounts for the majority of H-1B recipients, will bear the brunt of the cost increases. China, the Philippines, and South Korea also see substantial impacts due to their large numbers of H-1B workers in technology and healthcare sectors.

The tightened rules include stricter eligibility criteria for specialty occupations and increased scrutiny of employer-employee relationships. Companies must now demonstrate that they have specific work assignments for each H-1B worker and that the worker will not displace US workers.

Industry groups have criticized the overhaul, arguing that the higher costs and regulatory burdens will discourage hiring foreign talent and could drive businesses to move operations overseas. The US government maintains that the changes protect American workers and ensure the integrity of the visa program.