H-1B Visa Shake-Up: Florida Ban, Healthcare Worker Fee Exemption, and New Lottery Results

This week brought significant developments in the H-1B visa landscape that could affect EB-3 applicants and the broader immigration community. **Florida Implements 8-Month H-1B Hiring Pause** On March 3, 2026, the Florida Board of Governors approved an eight-month moratorium on H-1B visa hiring at public colleges and universities, making Florida the second state after Texas to implement such a restriction. Governor Ron DeSantis requested the ban to prioritize Florida citizens for job opportunities and limit international faculty recruitment. The ban affects new hires for faculty, researchers, and medical residents through the H-1B program. However, current H-1B holders already employed at Florida institutions are exempt, and their visas may be renewed during the pause period. During the moratorium, the chancellor's office will study H-1B usage and costs at public institutions. Critics warn the pause could damage institutional reputation and long-term recruitment efforts. Associate Professor Kimberly Dunn of Florida Atlantic University cautioned that "a one-year pause, even if it goes away after one year, will have lasting effects." **Healthcare Worker Fee Exemption Bill Introduced** On March 17, 2026, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced the Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act. The bill would exempt foreign-trained healthcare workers from the $100,000 H-1B filing fee established by presidential proclamation in September 2025. The bill is sponsored by Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY), Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (D-GA), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), and Yvette Clarke (D-NY). The American Hospital Association supports the legislation, stating it would "help maintain patient access to care in communities nationwide" and preserve staffing in areas with documented healthcare worker shortages. **FY 2027 H-1B Lottery: Wage-Weighted Selection Results Coming** The FY 2027 H-1B cap registration period closed on March 19, 2026, and USCIS intends to send selection notifications by March 31. This marks the first cap season using the new wage-weighted selection system, where higher-wage positions receive more entries in the lottery pool. Under the new rules, registrations at wage level IV are entered four times, level III three times, level II twice, and level I once. According to the Penn Wharton Budget Model, this change is projected to increase the average compensation of selected applicants by $9,554 (8.5%), from $112,309 to $121,863. **Impact for EB-3 Applicants** While these developments primarily affect H-1B visa holders, they have indirect implications for the EB-3 community. Many EB-3 applicants are currently on H-1B status while awaiting green card processing. State-level H-1B restrictions could affect job mobility and employer sponsorship decisions, while the wage-weighted lottery may influence which employers can successfully sponsor workers through the H-1B to EB-3 pipeline.