The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) H-1B Strengthening Rule and Department of Labor (DOL) Prevailing Wage Interim Final Rules were published last week, launching a 30-day comment period. Employers who hire H-1B professionals need to understand the impact of these rules as they include significant changes and have different effective dates.

According to the DHS and DOL websites and public announcements, the changes are intended to adjust the existing wage levels to ensure the levels reflect the wages paid to U.S. workers with comparable experience, education, and responsibility as similarly employed foreign workers.