The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has quoted it will replace the H-1B visa lottery, the method for selecting which foreign professionals receive the intended visas each year, with a selection process that gives priority to the jobs with the highest salaries.

Under these reforms, the H-1B programme will place those workers who are offered the highest wage, ensuring that the highest-skilled applicants are admitted.

The proposal is the latest in a series of changes the administration has made to regulate the H1-B program. US officials affirm that the change will basically save the wages of American workers .

According to the Department, modifying the H-1B cap selection process in this way will motivate employers to offer higher wages for higher-skilled workers instead of using the program to fill relatively lower-paid vacancies.

The proposal, which was announced Wednesday will be opened for a 30-day comment period.