Two American Senators have introduced a legislation in the Senate proposing to cut the number of popular H-1B visas by 15,000 and that such a visa be given to highest wage earner first.
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialised fields.
The legislation was introduced by Senators Bill Nelson of the Democratic Party and Jeff Sessions of the Republican Party.
Currently every year a maximum of 85,000 H-1B visas can be issued including 20,000 for those who completed higher education in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
The popular work visa has been given to a large number of IT professionals from India over the years. The bill proposes to reduce the number of visas available by 15,000.
It would also require the Department of Homeland Security to prioritise the allocation of these 70,000 H-1B visas to foreign workers based on their salary.
It would also require employers to prove that they first tried to recruit American workers prior to hiring an H-1B visa holder and bar companies that employ more than 50 people from hiring any additional H-1B employees if more than half of their employees are already H-1B visa holders.