WASHINGTON:- The Trump administration is preparing to impose additional immigration restrictions on employer-based H-1B visas and international students in 2026 and 2027.

The proposed immigration rules come as the administration prepares to finalize proposed rules to increase salary requirements for H-1B visas and employment-based immigrants.

The Trump administration is also proposing new rules to restrict employers, visa holders, and international students from seeking work after graduation.

With the new rules, companies and individuals also face tougher decisions, more aggressive Labor Department inspections, and difficulty getting visa interviews.

In September 2025, the Trump administration imposed a $100,000 fee on the entry of new H-1B visa holders, affecting many employers.

H-1B temporary visas are often the only way for highly skilled foreign nationals to work in the United States for long periods of time. Employers must pay the higher of the actual or prevailing wage paid to American professionals with similar experience and qualifications.

Recruiting companies at American universities find that international students make up about 75% to 80% of full-time undergraduate students in AI-related fields such as computer and information science.

Finalizing Proposed Immigration Rules

In March 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor published a proposed rule that would significantly increase the required prevailing wage and make it more expensive to hire H-1B visa holders and sponsor employment-based immigrants.

The proposed rule would increase the required minimum wage by 21% to 33%, depending on the worker’s experience level. The comment period for the rule ends in late May, and the U.S. Department of Labor will likely attempt to finalize the rule in late 2026 or early 2027.

In August 2025, the Department of Homeland Security proposed a rule that would replace the current “period of status” policy for international students with fixed entry periods. That rule is expected to be finalized soon.

Extensions beyond the limited time would require government approval, which would make it difficult for students in programs longer than four years and potentially discourage them from studying in the United States.

Applicants may reconsider the risk of attending a U.S. university: If they do not finish their program within the stipulated period, they could be forced to leave before receiving their degree.

Upcoming Proposed Immigration Rules

Trump officials are expected to propose a rule that would further restrict the H-1B visa category. The Trump administration’s new H-1B rule is expected to incorporate key elements of its failed 2020 rule.

The October 2020 rule had two main goals: (1) to make it more challenging for highly skilled foreign nationals to qualify for H-1B status and (2) to prevent H-1B visa holders from working.