India, Oct. 8 -- A new Republican bill in the US House would sharply increase penalties for employers found to have committed serious H-1B visa violations, raising the maximum fine from $35,000 to $250,000 as the Trump administration and lawmakers intensify scrutiny of the foreign-worker program.

The H-1B Visa Fraud Crackdown Act, introduced by Texas Republican Rep. Beth Van Duyne on October 1, would also lengthen bans on companies that violate immigration rules.

The proposal comes amid a broader push to tighten oversight of H-1B visas, which allow US employers to hire foreign workers for specialty occupations. Van Duyne has argued that stronger penalties are needed to deter employers from abusing the program and to protect US workers....