Why have H-1B visa applications plunged? Blame it on steep fee hike & Donald Trump’s anti-immigration stance

H-1B visa registration decline comes at a time when visa fee has elevated sharply and the US financial slowdown has resulted in job cuts. (AI picture)

Donald Trump influence: H-1B visa applications for FY26 have decreased by 25% to 358,737 in comparison with the earlier 12 months, as per United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) information. The variety of shortlisted candidates decreased by 27% to 120,141, from which 85,000 H-1B visas will probably be granted.The FY26 choices, reaching their lowest level since FY22, come at a time when visa fee has elevated sharply and the US financial slowdown has resulted in job cuts. The United States points 85,000 expert employee H-1B visas yearly, with India being a an enormous beneficiary. Both US organisations and Indian IT firms utilise these visas to deploy expert professionals abroad. The USCIS carried out H-1B registrations for FY26 from March 7-24, and chosen candidates will proceed with their fiscal 12 months petition submissions.Also Read | Forced to destroy! US rejects 15 mango shipments from India, exporters estimate losses of $500,000

Why Have H-1B Visa Registrations Declined?

According to consultants who spoke to ET, US President Donald Trump’s immigration insurance policies and stricter rules have influenced this development. Additional necessities now embody social media verification and enhanced documentation necessities.The elevated utility price from $10 to $215 has been a big barrier, in keeping with Poorvi Chothani of LawQuest, a US immigration agency. “Earlier, even if companies estimated they needed 20-30 people, they would file (applications) for 30 to be on safer side,” she mentioned. “This time, they have made a thorough analysis and taken conservative approach.”The discount in numbers this 12 months can be attributed to workers reductions at main know-how firms like Microsoft and Meta, Chothani famous.Students with out rapid necessities to transform to work visas post-education are opting to depart the US. “There was fear among students who had potential OPT (optional practical training) opportunities,” Chothani mentioned. “In this uncertain environment, even a little run-in with the law can get you into trouble. They have decided to play it safe and go home.” STEM college students face attainable departure necessities inside one 12 months of completion, following proposed laws to remove OPT work authorisation. Currently, OPT permits a three-year post-graduation keep for job in search of. The administration’s immigration enforcement has intensified, persevering with insurance policies from the earlier time period.Gnanamookan Senthurjothi, who leads The Visa Code, a US immigration agency, factors out that even minor violations like jaywalking are being documented, creating difficulties for immigrants.The visa utility procedures have change into more and more complicated in latest intervals.Also Read | Why India is usually a huge winner of Donald Trump 2.0 period if it performs its playing cards properSince early this 12 months, social media verification has change into extra rigorous, in keeping with Senthurjothi. There has been a rise in requests for proof (RFEs) and extra documentation. “In some cases, even after a visa is approved, the stamping and issuance is taking four weeks, where it usually takes about a couple of days,” Senthurjothi mentioned. The annual H-1B visa allocation contains 85,000 visas, with 20,000 particularly reserved for people holding superior levels.“Based on evidence from FY23 and FY24 H-1B cap seasons, we have undertaken extensive fraud investigations, denied and revoked petitions accordingly, and continue to make law enforcement referrals for criminal prosecution,” USCIS mentioned in its report. “We are also reviewing FY25 data and will review FY26 data for any attempts to gain an unfair advantage through the beneficiary-centric selection process. If applicable, we will deny or revoke any petitions and make law enforcement referrals for criminal prosecution accordingly.“H-1B visa applications for FY25 totalled 479,953, with 135,137 candidates shortlisted. In the 12 months earlier than that, 780,884 applications have been obtained, and 188,400 have been shortlisted.