U.S. Representative Chip Roy has introduced the “American White-Collar Worker Jobs Act of 2026,” a proposed bill that would change the H-1B visa program and related employment pathways. According to reports, the legislation seeks to end the use of H-1B visas as a route to permanent residency, which would prevent applicants from using that status as a pathway to a green card. The bill also targets the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, aiming to eliminate OPT.
In addition to these changes, the proposal includes measures intended to affect how employers use the H-1B program. One outlet reports that the act would enforce stricter wage standards and include provisions aimed at reducing displacement of U.S. workers while prioritizing American STEM professionals.
The bill is presented as a reform effort focused on regulating white-collar immigration employment and education-related work authorization tied to OPT. The legislation is at the proposal stage, and further details, debate, and potential revisions would determine whether and how these steps could be implemented.
