The United States has finalized a significant overhaul of its H-1B visa selection process, moving from a random lottery to a wage-weighted system for the March 2026 registration cycle. This new system prioritizes applicants in higher-paid jobs, potentially impacting the number and profile of foreign workers, particularly Indian professionals who form the largest applicant group. An additional fee for certain overseas H-1B petitions also signals a shift towards favoring salary and seniority in foreign worker selection.