US H-1B Visa Limits Reached as Approvals Decline Among Major Employers

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially reached its limit for H-1B visa petitions for the fiscal year 2025.

This cap encompasses the standard allocation of 65,000 visas available for general applicants, as well as an additional 20,000 specifically reserved for individuals holding advanced degrees from US educational institutions, often referred to as the master’s cap. USCIS will inform applicants of their selection status through their online accounts, with those not selected receiving updates indicating "Not Selected: Not eligible to file an H-1B cap petition based on this registration."

The deadline for submitting H-1B petitions based on valid registration notices was June 30, 2024. Since that date was a Sunday, any paper petitions received by July 1, 2024, will also be considered timely. The registration period for FY 2025 began on March 6, 2024, and was extended until March 25, 2024, allowing applicants additional time to submit their registrations. The H-1B visa program serves as a vital channel for US employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialized fields that require both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.

To qualify for an H-1B visa, candidates must possess at least a bachelor’s degree in areas such as engineering, medicine, and social sciences. Recent data indicates a notable decline in H-1B sponsorships among leading employers for 2024. Amazon, the leading sponsor of H-1B visas, recorded a significant drop in approvals, falling from over 11,000 in 2023 to just over 7,000. Indian IT giants Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) also saw declines, with Infosys dropping from over 7,300 approvals to approximately 5,900, while TCS experienced a reduction of 1,600 approvals.

In contrast, Meta (formerly Facebook) reported an increase of 400 H-1B approvals, attributed to its expanding focus on virtual and augmented reality technologies. Several economic and technological factors are believed to be influencing this downturn in H-1B visa sponsorships. Abhinav Immigration Services founder Ajay Sharma has pointed to global economic challenges which are reshaping business models and diminishing the demand for certain positions.

Many observe that the hesitance to engage with the unpredictable H-1B lottery process affects internship and job opportunities for international students, particularly those at prestigious US universities. Wealthier individuals are increasingly considering alternative pathways, such as the EB-5 program, which provides US residency through investment, particularly attractive to families seeking stability for their children studying or working in the US.