PTC News Desk: A group of Republican lawmakers has proposed a new bill to stop giving H-1B visas for three years and make major changes to the system. They say the current programme has hurt job opportunities for Americans.

The bill, called the “End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026,” was introduced by Eli Crane. It aims to restart the visa system later with stricter rules.

"The federal government should work for hardworking citizens, not the profit margins of massive corporations. We owe it to the American people to prevent the broken H-1B system from boxing them out of jobs they are qualified to perform," Crane said.

He added the bill "would provide greater access to employment, strengthen protocols in the visa process, and prioritise the livelihoods of Americans."

The legislation has drawn support from several Republican lawmakers, including Brandon Gill, Paul Gosar and Andy Ogles.

"I am proud to cosponsor Rep. Eli Crane's efforts to reform and tighten our H-1B visa system, ensuring that our immigration system serves American workers first before foreigners," Gill said.

Some of the key changes include reducing the number of visas each year from 65,000 to 25,000 and removing all special exemptions. Instead of a lottery, visas would be given based on higher salaries, with a minimum pay of $200,000. Employers would also have to prove they couldn’t find a qualified American worker and that they haven’t laid off employees.

The bill also says H-1B workers cannot take multiple jobs, and staffing agencies won’t be allowed to hire them.

Other proposals include stopping visa holders from bringing family members, ending the OPT programme for foreign students, and not allowing H-1B workers to apply for permanent residency.