Amazon.com Services LLC Leads H-1B Approvals in 2024 Over Major Rivals

Key Takeaways

Amazon topped 2024 H-1B visa approvals with 9,265 petitions, surpassing competitors like Infosys (8,140) and Cognizant (6,321).
Tesla saw over a 100% increase in H-1B petitions to 742, reflecting expansion in autonomous driving and energy solutions hiring.
Infosys and TCS reduced H-1B reliance, focusing on localized hiring; Infosys reports 60% of U.S. workforce without visa dependency.

The global technology industry is evolving rapidly, characterized by significant shifts in employment approaches and immigration policies. In 2024, one of the most notable developments was Amazon.com Services LLC securing the highest number of H-1B visa approvals among all tech organizations. With 9,265 petitions approved, Amazon not only surpassed competitors like Infosys Limited, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Microsoft, but also reemphasized the pivotal role that skilled immigration plays in the U.S. tech sector. This revelation sheds light on broader industry trends, geopolitical dynamics, and the strategic priorities of leading global companies.

Amazon.com Services LLC Leads H-1B Approvals in 2024 Over Major Rivals

Amazon: Securing the Top Position in 2024

In 2024, Amazon received approval for 9,265 H-1B visa petitions, marking the highest figure among industry players in the United States. Although this number experienced a dip compared to the 11,000-plus approvals Amazon achieved in 2023, it still placed the company at the forefront of leveraging the H-1B visa program to secure highly skilled international professionals. Key areas contributing to Amazon’s demand for H-1B visa holders include its focus on artificial intelligence, e-commerce platforms, cloud computing through its AWS (Amazon Web Services) segment, and logistical optimization.

Amazon has consistently broadened its international recruitment strategies to meet the demand for specialized talent. These professionals aid the company in addressing complex challenges, supporting innovation, and ensuring competitiveness in fast-evolving global markets. With the industry depending increasingly on technology advancements, Amazon’s use of immigration programs underscores its strategic focus on international expertise to drive progress in both customer satisfaction and business efficiency.

Other Major Players: Where Infosys Limited and Others Stand

Although Infosys Limited didn’t lead the H-1B approvals in 2024, the company secured second place with 8,140 approvals. Renowned for its focus on IT consulting, application management, and cloud integration services, Infosys continues to tap into the talent pool offered by global immigration programs. Similarly, Cognizant Technology Solutions achieved 6,321 approvals, cementing its reliance on skilled foreign professionals for specialized roles in IT operations, data management, and innovation-led projects.

Several other influential companies also made their mark on the H-1B visa landscape in 2024:

Google: With 5,364 approved petitions, Google maintained its focus on talent acquisition in areas such as machine learning, AI development, and cybersecurity.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS): Garnering 5,274 approvals, TCS showcased an enduring demand for technology and business solutions experts.
Meta (formerly Facebook): Winning 4,844 visa approvals, Meta’s hiring priorities revolved around augmented and virtual reality initiatives, coupled with machine learning efforts.
Microsoft: Secured 4,725 approvals, consistently focusing on software and product development while emphasizing innovation in cloud services.
Apple: A total of 3,873 visas allowed Apple to maintain momentum in designing robust hardware and consumer-driven technologies.

Interestingly, Tesla received approval for 742 H-1B petitions for initial hires in 2024, reflecting over a 100% increase compared to 2023 levels. The company’s reliance on foreign talent signals a diversification in hiring strategies as it expands its technological ventures in autonomous driving and innovative energy solutions.

Declining H-1B Reliance Among Indian-Origin Firms

A striking feature of the 2024 data is the declining reliance on H-1B visas among Indian-origin companies like Infosys Limited and TCS. Over the past decade, these firms have shifted hiring practices to prioritize local recruitment and reduce their dependency on immigration programs amid evolving regulations.

Between 2015 and 2023, Infosys’ H-1B applications saw a 21% decline, while TCS reported a sharper drop of 75%. This strategy stems from efforts to establish nearshore delivery centers that cater to clients in real time, provide cost-effective solutions, and mitigate visa-related uncertainties. Infosys, for example, reported that over 60% of its U.S. workforce in 2024 were independent of H-1B support—a notable benchmark for the company’s localized hiring initiatives.

This approach allows businesses like Infosys Limited to comply with regulatory shifts while positioning themselves as sustainable, globally integrated enterprises. Although traditional reliance on skilled immigration is waning for such enterprises, their strategic pivot ensures operational adaptability.

Broader Trends in H-1B Usage

The data from H-1B visa approvals in 2024 reflects important trends in how companies approach recruitment for tech positions across the globe. Here’s what these patterns indicate:

1. Global Demand for Specialized Talent

The U.S. continues to face shortages in skilled domestic workers across sectors like software development, cybersecurity, and AI. The H-1B visa program remains essential for filling gaps in roles that require niche expertise. By employing foreign professionals at scale, companies like Amazon and Microsoft ensure a pipeline of innovation and problem-solving expertise that bolsters their global competitiveness.

2. Policy Developments and Industry Advocacy

Immigration policy continues to influence the dynamics of corporate hiring practices. Public discourse, ranging from Elon Musk’s endorsement of skilled immigration to President-elect Donald Trump’s renewed support for H-1B programming, spotlights the program’s importance in driving national innovation and economic growth. While Musk highlights talented immigrants’ contributions to emerging technologies, Trump’s adjusted stance underscores a recognition of skilled labor’s pivotal role in U.S. industries.

3. Localized Hiring Versus Global Strategies

Whereas Indian-origin companies like Infosys have shifted toward locally hiring domestic talent, U.S.-based giants (e.g., Amazon) continue to embrace H-1B visas to secure top-tier expertise. This divergence reflects the distinct methods that companies employ to achieve operational efficiency while addressing international hiring complexities.

The H-1B Visa: A Look Toward the Future

Implemented in 1990, the H-1B visa program has steadily grown to become a cornerstone of skilled immigration for specialized fields. Yet its current trajectory suggests a dynamic future shaped by political considerations, firm-specific strategies, and workforce demands. Policymakers and businesses will need to navigate this intricate landscape to ensure the continued growth and stability of industries like technology.

Key changes under the program—such as reassessing caps, reforming selection mechanisms, and incentivizing localized hiring—will determine its structure in years to come. Companies such as Amazon are likely to remain key participants, ensuring that skilled immigration complements technological innovation.

Conclusion

Amazon’s dominance in securing H-1B visa approvals for 2024 reverberates across the global technology sector and immigration discussions. The company’s extensive recruitment of H-1B holders highlights both its immense needs for international expertise and its commitment to remaining competitive. At the same time, firms like Infosys Limited are shifting toward more localized workforce strategies, indicative of broader changes in industry-wide hiring practices.

As H-1B policies evolve and political debates persist in shaping their framework, both multinational companies and domestic labor markets will face unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Whether by fostering international collaborations or investing locally, companies must maintain agility in responding to shifting workforce demands. Skilled immigration will undoubtedly remain central to technological advancements and the competitiveness of global markets.

For authoritative information on H-1B visa policies and their ongoing updates, you can visit U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This resource provides detailed insights, official forms, and process guidelines essential for individuals and enterprises navigating immigration policies.

This analysis, along with data reported by VisaVerge.com, emphasizes the critical interplay between skilled immigration and the core dynamics of the tech sector. The H-1B visa program, as an enabler of global talent acquisition, will likely play an indispensable role in shaping technological innovation for years to come.

Learn Today

H-1B Visa → A U.S. immigration program allowing employers to hire foreign workers in specialized fields like technology, engineering, or medicine.
Immigration Policy → Rules and regulations governing how individuals can legally enter, work, and reside in a country.
Skilled Immigration → Immigration focused on attracting individuals with expertise in specialized areas, often to fill labor market gaps.
Localized Hiring → Employment strategy emphasizing recruitment of workers from within a country rather than relying on foreign talent.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) → A field of technology focused on creating intelligent systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence.

This Article in a Nutshell

Amazon Leads H-1B Visa Approvals in 2024

Amazon topped U.S. tech firms in 2024 with 9,265 H-1B visa approvals, emphasizing its reliance on global talent for AI, e-commerce, and cloud innovations. As competitors like Infosys and TCS shift toward local hiring, Amazon’s strategy showcases the vital role of skilled immigration in driving technological progress and global competitiveness.