Sponsors (13)
Bans new H‑1B visas for three years, tightens H‑1B rules and fees, removes derivatives, limits change/adjustment of status, and curbs student/exchange work authorization.
Official title: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for a pause on the issuance of H-1B visas until certain limitations on the issuance thereof are implemented.
Introduced April 22, 2026 by Eli Crane · Last progress April 22, 2026
The bill trades significant restrictions on legal immigration and visa flexibility (to protect some U.S. workers and simplify enforcement) for large, immediate disruptions to immigrant workers and families, employers, universities, and the U.S. innovation and public‑sector workforce — raising risks of economic harm, family separation, and legal challenges.
U.S. workers (especially middle‑income and entry‑level workers) face reduced competition and more hiring/wage opportunities because the bill pauses new H‑1B admissions, raises wage/prioritization standards, and restricts certain nonimmigrant work authorizations.
DHS and consular adjudications may be simpler and face reduced immediate workload because the bill pauses or narrows multiple visa pathways (temporary H‑1B pause, limiting H classification to primary workers, restricting change-of-status and certain EAD processing).
Federal hiring will shift away from certain nonimmigrant categories, opening some positions to U.S. citizens/current federal employees and reducing some contractor nonimmigrant compliance concerns.
Employers (tech, research, startups, nonprofits) and the U.S. innovation economy lose substantial access to skilled foreign workers because the bill pauses H‑1B admissions, sharply reduces the cap, halves maximum stays, imposes a large per‑petition fee, and eliminates the lottery — causing project delays, higher labor costs, reduced competitiveness, and potential job losses.
Many nonimmigrants, parolees, and pending applicants lose the ability to adjust status or keep employment authorization (including immediate EAD rescissions and removal of dual‑intent/change‑of‑status pathways), forcing departures, income loss, and legal limbo for workers and families.
Spouses and minor children of H workers lose automatic derivative H status, threatening family separation, curtailing dependent work/study options, and increasing financial and emotional strain on immigrant families.
Based on analysis of 9 sections of legislative text.
The bill sharply restricts several immigration pathways and work authorizations: it imposes a three-year nationwide ban on issuance of H‑1B visas, cuts H‑1B numerical and duration limits, eliminates derivative H (dependent) status, creates a large employer filing fee, bars federal agencies from hiring or petitioning for H-class nonimmigrants, and blocks many change-of-status and adjustment-of-status pathways. It also forbids employment authorization for most F‑1, M‑1, and many J‑1 attendees. All changes take effect on enactment.