The United States is planning a major change in its H-1B visa policy. According to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the new approach will focus on bringing skilled foreign workers to the U.S. for a few years — not to settle permanently, but to train American workers and then return to their home countries.
Speaking about the plan, Bessent said that the idea is to use global talent to strengthen the American workforce. “We want people to come here, help us build, share their knowledge, and then go back to their own countries,” he said.
The proposed H-1B system will allow foreign professionals to stay in the U.S. for three to seven years. During this time, they will work alongside American employees, transferring skills and expertise in sectors such as manufacturing, shipbuilding, and semiconductors. Once their term is over, U.S. workers will take over those roles.
The new plan is part of Donald Trump’s broader strategy to rebuild American industries and reduce long-term dependency on foreign labor. Officials say the move is not meant to discourage global talent but to make the visa system more purposeful and temporary.
This policy marks a shift from how the H-1B visa has worked for decades. Until now, many foreign professionals, especially from India used the visa as a step toward permanent residency. Under the new proposal, the focus will be on short-term training and knowledge transfer, not long-term employment.
Experts believe this could reduce the number of H-1B workers looking to settle in the U.S. permanently, while encouraging companies to invest more in American training programs. However, it may also make the visa less attractive to skilled workers from abroad who previously saw it as a pathway to long-term opportunities.
The U.S. government plans to implement this policy in stages, with a focus on industries that are facing severe skill shortages. Officials say the success of the new model will depend on how quickly American workers can adapt and how global professionals respond to shorter stays in the country.