In a recent analysis of government data for FY2025 H-1B visa approvals, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Google are the top 4 companies with approved new H-1B visa petitions for FY2025, with Apple ranking sixth. In contrast, only 3 Indian companies are included in the top 25 new FY2025 H-1B visa approval companies. This is a dramatic drop in approvals for Indian companies.
Additionally, with artificial intelligence (AI) high on the list of important projects for the above U.S. tech companies, they need recent graduates of master’s programs focused on AI. In turn, employers find that the majority of students who qualify for these roles are foreign born. As such, the H-1B visa is the best option to hire these individuals.
This is the first time U.S. tech companies are the top four recipients for new H-1B visa petitions. Further, for this group, denials were 1% or less. Only 3 Indian companies are among the top 25 employers with approved new H-1B petitions. The India-based companies show a 70% drop in approvals from FY2015 and 37% less than FY2024. Previously, H1-B critics said the program employs foreign talent rather than U.S. talent in providing information technology services. With the change this year, that argument no longer holds.
Turning the attention to continuing employment approvals, Amazon topped the list with over 14,000. Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Apple, and Google are in the top 6. Tata Consulting Services (TCS), is the second highest recipient of continuing employment approvals. It’s important to note that these results for continuing employment may include multiple approvals per person, if, for example, a work location change is approved.
Further, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approved over 28,000 unique employers for a minimum of 1 new FY2025 H-1B petition. In total, over half of all new H-1B petitions approved are for employers with 15 or less total approvals. Ninety-five percent of employers received an approval for ten or less FY2025 H-1B visa petitions for initial employment.
The Trump administration put forth changes for the FY2026 H-1B visa lottery. Among the changes are increasing the prevailing wage for H-1B and other professional visas, and the $100,000 U.S. entry fee for each new H-1B holder, among others. However, the outlook for future H-1B visas is uncertain at this time.
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