What is new H1B reform bill and is it passed?

The newly reintroduced bill is the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act, which aims to bring stricter rules on outsourcing, raise wage requirements, and adjust wages for inflation. Another proposal, the Immigration Visa Efficiency and Security Act of 2023, seeks to eliminate per-country green card limits and update visa rules.

These bills are not yet passed into law. They are still under consideration in Congress.

For Indian IT employees, a master’s degree is not mandatory for the H-1B visa. The basic requirement remains a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field. However, there is an annual cap exemption allowing up to 20,000 additional H-1B visas for applicants who hold a U.S. master’s degree or higher, which increases their lottery chances but is not compulsory.