Trump’s “Buy American, Hire American” Executive Order

President Trump signed an Executive Order on April 18th, which directs the Secretary of State, Attorney General, Secretary of Labor, and Secretary of Homeland Security to propose new rules and issue new guidance to “rigorously enforce and administer the laws governing entry into the United States of workers from abroad.”  The Executive Order also directs these agencies to suggest reforms to prioritize “the most-skilled or highest-paid petition beneficiaries” in awarding H-1B visas.

While the Executive Order does not provide any specific details or actions to change any visa program, it does indicate that the administration is considering such changes to the H-1B visa program as giving greater weight to H-1B applicants with advanced degrees and higher wages in the H-1B lottery and increasing application fees.

This Executive Order does not have any impact on this year’s H-1B visa process or lottery.