High-skilled Immigration Reform Act

Summary#

This bill would change rules for H-1B skilled worker visas and create a new education grant program. It would raise the annual H-1B visa cap from 65,000 to 130,000. The bill also removes a limit in the current cap-exemption language that referenced a 20,000 exemption threshold. It raises the numeric thresholds that define an "H-1B-dependent employer," increasing the employee and H-1B worker counts used in that test. The bill creates a "Promoting American Ingenuity" grant program at the Department of Education to support K–12 STEM education, keep STEM teachers, and help colleges train students in STEM fields.

What it means for you#

  • Employers: The H-1B annual cap would double, and the changes to the H-1B-dependent employer thresholds would change which employers are classified as dependent under existing rules.
  • Prospective foreign workers: More H-1B visa slots would be available annually under the bill's cap change.
  • States and schools: States could apply for competitive grants to strengthen STEM education, retain STEM teachers, and support higher education programs in STEM.
  • Individuals: Details about how and when people could benefit would depend on later rules and appropriations.

Expenses#

The bill authorizes $25,000,000 in appropriations for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the STEM grant program (a total authorization of $125,000,000 across those years). No other cost estimates or spending details are included in the provided text.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.