The Department of Homeland Security will replace the H-1B visa lottery system with a wage-based selection process starting February 27, 2026. This new system prioritizes foreign workers with higher skill levels and salaries, using a four-tier wage system. Registrations for higher wage levels will receive more entries into the selection pool, with selections ranked from highest to lowest wage level. This change aims to ensure H-1B visas go to the highest-paid workers.