Republican lawmakers in the United States have introduced legislation to suspend the H-1B visa programme for three years and overhaul its structure, citing the need to protect jobs for American workers.

The proposed “End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026” has been introduced by Republican lawmaker Eli Crane, who argues that the current system is flawed and needs major reform to prioritise US citizens in employment.

Supporters of the bill say the visa system has allowed large companies to hire cheaper foreign labour at the expense of American workers, and insist the programme must be reshaped to address job displacement concerns.

The legislation would reduce the annual cap on H-1B visas from 65,000 to 25,000 and replace the current lottery system with a selection process based on salary levels.

It also proposes setting a minimum annual salary of $200,000 for foreign workers under the programme.

Under the draft bill, employers would be required to prove they were unable to hire qualified American workers before recruiting foreign employees, and also confirm they have not recently laid off US staff for the same roles.

The proposal includes further restrictions, such as limiting H-1B holders to a single job, blocking pathways to permanent residency, and ending the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme for foreign graduates.

It would also prevent visa holders from bringing family members to the United States.

Critics of the current system argue that the programme has been misused to replace domestic workers with lower-cost foreign labour, while supporters say it helps fill critical skill gaps in sectors like technology and engineering.

The H-1B programme has long been a politically sensitive issue in the US, particularly due to its significant use by workers from India and its role in the technology sector.

The bill has not yet been debated in Congress.