Editorial Board
The H-1B Lottery Is Too Easily Gamed. Here’s How to Fix It
The visa should be allocated by merit, not luck.
He had a good idea to reward talent.
Photographer: Scott Olson/Getty Images North America
Every year, hundreds of thousands of college-educated foreigners compete for a chance to work in the US. With just 85,000 slots available, the odds are against them. H-1B visas are awarded not by merit but by lottery.
This random allocation never made much sense. For almost two decades, it’s imposed an inefficient and unpredictable standard that prevents employers from hiring the best candidates. And, to the detriment of aspiring visa holders and US workers alike, the lottery is far too easily gamed.