Senators Reintroduce H-1B, L-1 Visa Reform Bill

Senators Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin reintroduced the bipartisan H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act to tighten rules and curb employer abuses. The bill would raise wage and hiring standards, require public job postings, narrow eligibility to prioritize workers with advanced STEM degrees, tighten L-1 evidentiary rules, increase penalties for violations, and expand Department of Labor investigative authority (including fees to fund additional DOL staff). The move follows the White House's $100,000 fee on new H-1B applications and reporting that major tech firms continue filing visa petitions while laying off U.S. employees. Separate legislation from Sen. Tom Cotton would limit universities, research institutions and non-profits from hiring unlimited foreign workers. The proposals could significantly affect Indian nationals, who account for roughly 71–73% of recent H-1B approvals (about 191,000 in FY2023 and ~207,000 in FY2024).