US Senate bill would pause new H-1B visas for three years

A US senator wants a three-year pause on new H-1B visas. The bill is called the End H-1B Abuse Act. Travel + Leisure Asia covered the plan in late July 2026.

This is a news summary, not legal advice. Nothing in this bill is law yet. Current H-1B rules stay in place until Congress passes a bill and the president signs it.

What changed

• Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Montana) introduced the bill. His office calls it the End H-1B Abuse Act of 2026.
• The plan would stop new H-1B visas for three years, then restart under tighter rules, per Sheehy’s press release.
• It would write a $100,000 fee into law for each H-1B petition. That fee has already been fought in court. See our notes on the June 8 strike-down and the June 26 stay.
• It would replace the lottery with a wage-based pick system.
• It would ban many staffing / third-party setups and concurrent jobs.
• It would end dual intent for H-1B and block dependents on H-class stays, according to the same press package and press summaries.
• The bill also aims to end OPT-style work for many foreign students and exchange visitors.

What you still need

• A real job offer and a qualifying specialty role under today’s H-1B rules.
• Employer filing through USCIS, plus lottery or cap rules that still apply now.
• Budget for any fee fights still in court. Do not assume this Senate bill already froze new filings.
• A backup plan if your company relies on outsourcing or multiple job sites. Those models sit in the bill’s crosshairs.

Who this affects

• Foreign skilled workers hoping for a first H-1B, especially from large hiring markets.
• Employers that use staffing firms or multi-site placements.
• H-1B families if dependent bans ever become law.
• Students on OPT if Congress kills that work path.
• People comparing the US with Canada or the United Kingdom for skilled work.

What to do next

1. Read Sheehy’s bill summary and the Travel + Leisure Asia write-up. Treat both as proposal news.
2. Check live USCIS H-1B guidance before you change job or travel plans.
3. Compare Canada vs United States if you need a Plan B for skilled work abroad.

News summary only, not legal advice. Watch Congress and USCIS. A bill in committee is not a visa freeze.