End H–1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Crane
Introduced
Summary
Freezes and sharply caps H-1B visas while reworking nonimmigrant work authorizations. The bill would pause H-1B issuance for 3 years and remake the program to raise wage standards, add employer accountability, curb third-party staffing, end key student work permissions, and narrow pathways to permanent residence.
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- Employers: Requires a $100,000 additional H-1B fee and new recruitment and layoff attestations. It sets a wage floor of $200,000 and bans concurrent and third-party employment arrangements.
- H-1B workers: Caps H-1B visas at 25,000 per year and cuts the maximum H-1B stay to 3 years. It ends dual intent, removes spousal/dependent eligibility, and tightens change-of-employer rules.
- Students and immigration pathways: Eliminates Optional Practical Training and J-1 student work authorization. It largely prohibits adjustment of status while preserving narrow exceptions for refugees, asylees adjudicated within one year, and conditional permanent residents.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 7 costs, 1 mixed.
End student work programs like OPT
If enacted, F-1 and M-1 students would no longer be allowed to get employment authorization in the United States. If enacted, J-1 students admitted to attend an educational or training institution would also be barred from employment authorization. In practice this would end Optional Practical Training and similar student work programs.
No H-1B dependents; end dual intent
If enacted, spouses and minor children would no longer be eligible as H-1B dependents. If enacted, H-category workers would no longer be allowed to rely on 'dual intent' when applying, which could make approvals harder.
Shorter H-1B maximum stay
If enacted, the maximum authorized H-1B stay would be reduced from six years to three years. The change would take effect on enactment.
Higher H-1B employer fees and rules
If enacted, employers would pay a $100,000 fee for each H-1B petition starting in fiscal year 2026. If enacted, employers would also have to attest to multiple conditions, including paying at least $200,000 a year and not laying off workers, and staffing agencies could not sponsor H-1B workers. If enacted, some prior exemptions from the rules would be removed.
Block many green-card paths and work permits
If enacted, most nonimmigrants, parolees, and others with temporary authorized presence in the U.S. would not be able to adjust status to lawful permanent resident while in the country. If enacted, narrow exceptions would apply for refugees, certain asylum applicants, conditional permanent residents, and petitions filed and decided within one year after enactment. If enacted, employment authorization tied to pending adjustment applications would be rescinded and pending authorizations would be denied with fee refunds. If enacted, the Secretary could not allow changes from one nonimmigrant classification to another while the person stays in the U.S.
Three-year H-1B pause and 25,000 cap
If enacted, no new H-1B visas would be issued for three years after the law is signed. If enacted, the number of H-1B visas in any fiscal year would be capped at 25,000 once the pause ends.
End H-1B lottery; favor higher wages
If enacted, the H-1B random lottery would end. If enacted, visas under the main cap would be awarded first to the highest wage offers after a registration period that lasts no more than two weeks each year. If enacted, other H-1B slots would be given in the order petitions are filed.
Federal agencies barred from hiring nonimmigrants
If enacted, no federal agency could file a petition for temporary nonimmigrant workers. If enacted, federal entities also could not employ such nonimmigrants directly or through contractors.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Crane
AZ • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9]
AZ • R
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Hunt
TX • R
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
TX • R
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5]
TN • R
Sponsored 4/22/2026
McClintock
CA • R
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Babin
TX • R
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]
TX • R
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1]
AL • R
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21]
TX • R
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Harris (NC)
NC • R
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]
TN • R
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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