Should the H1B Visa be limited to truly specialized roles like AI, robotics, and medicine, or should it remain open to a wider range of professions?

The original spirit of the H1B was to bring in specialized talent. Over the years, it expanded into broader categories, sometimes including roles that could arguably be filled by local workers. Limiting it to frontier fields like AI, robotics, biotech, or advanced medicine could make sense in theory. But in practice, the tech industry relies on a wide ecosystem of skills. An AI researcher can’t function without software engineers, product managers, and systems architects. If you restrict visas only to “elite” categories, you risk creating bottlenecks that slow innovation. So the best approach might be a tiered system: prioritize emerging industries but still leave space for broader professions where shortages persist.

I strongly believe H1B should stay broad. The U.S. economy isn’t just about futuristic tech—it also relies on finance, healthcare systems, education technology, and even niche consulting. All these fields benefit from international talent. Singling out a few industries risks making the system too rigid. What’s considered “specialized” today may be outdated tomorrow. For example, cloud computing seemed niche 15 years ago—today it’s mainstream. So flexibility is key. Don’t box the program into a narrow definition of “specialized.”