(UNITED STATES) As the debate over the H-1B visa heats up again in Washington, Indian officials are urging policymakers to look at what the program actually delivers for the U.S. economy: hard-to-find skills that keep American companies growing.
A senior Indian government official told The Indian Express that the visa “has immensely helped American companies in finding the right workers across the world,” adding that replacing foreign talent with U.S. workers is not simple. In the official’s view, despite loud political claims, “the reality is that the visa helps American companies the most.”
Key Data and Recent Trends
The numbers reinforce that point while revealing a changing system.
- For fiscal year 2025, total H-1B registrations fell to 479,953, a 38.6% decrease from the prior year.
- USCIS counted 470,342 eligible registrations and selected 120,603—more than the statutory cap—to offset expected drop-offs.
- The pool of unique beneficiaries remained high at roughly 442,000.
- Multiple registrations plunged from 408,891 in FY 2024 to 47,314 in FY 2025 after anti-fraud reforms.
Demand remains strong, but the days of mass, duplicative submissions are fading.
Selection Process and Caps
A major driver of the shift is USCIS’s beneficiary-centric selection process. This system now centers the lottery on individual workers rather than on each employer’s separate filing for the same person.
- Officials say the change blocks duplicate entries and cuts abuse.
- The overall statutory cap remains at 85,000 visas annually:
- 65,000 under the regular cap
- 20,000 for advanced degree holders
Even with cleaner data, far more qualified candidates exist than available slots.
Costs, Windows, and Official Guidance
Costs are climbing too.
- USCIS plans to raise the H-1B registration fee to $215 for FY 2026.
- The FY 2026 registration window ran from March 7–24, 2025.
Employers and applicants can review official program guidance on the exact eligibility, selection, and filing steps at the USCIS page: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations-and-fashion-models.
Policy Shifts Reshape a Contested Program
The H-1B visa—created in 1990 to let U.S. employers hire foreign professionals in specialty roles—sits at the center of a long-running argument over jobs, wages, and global talent.
- Critics claim the program displaces U.S. workers and holds down pay. Former Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently called H-1B a “scam,” urging companies to pick domestic candidates first.
- Supporters counter that many roles, especially in advanced tech, cannot be filled at the industry’s required pace without access to global graduates and experienced specialists. Tech leaders including Elon Musk have praised the program as key to U.S. competitiveness.
Indian officials are pressing the positive case publicly, warning against rhetoric that paints legal, high-skilled migration as a problem. They argue H-1B fills real gaps that training programs and local hiring cannot close overnight.
- Since 2015, Indian nationals have consistently made up more than 70% of approved H-1B petitions, including about 77% in 2022.
- Preliminary indicators for 2025 suggest Indians still account for a strong majority of new registrations, though some estimates place the share nearer 60%.
At the same time, reports from Indian tech hubs indicate a partial pullback by some candidates due to stricter scrutiny, higher rates of Requests for Evidence, and “immigration fatigue.” Still, the U.S. remains a top destination for many Indian STEM graduates, and H-1B remains the primary work route.
Broader Economic and Social Stakes
Beyond payrolls, the program supports:
- Joint projects and research tie-ups
- Professional exchanges
- Families settling and children attending U.S. schools
- Cross-border teams building products used by American consumers
Indian officials emphasize balance: the visa is a legal, structured path that helps companies solve real needs while deepening an important economic partnership.
“The visa has immensely helped American companies in finding the right workers across the world,” said a senior Indian official. The claim: closing the door too quickly would harm innovation, while leaving the system open to abuse would undercut trust.
What the Numbers Mean for Workers and Employers
Even after the FY 2025 drop, demand still outpaced supply by about four to one.
- Selection odds were near 21.8% for 2025—better than 2024 but still competitive.
- For FY 2026, USCIS received 343,981 eligible registrations for the 85,000 cap, showing continued interest despite tighter rules.
The process remains straightforward in principle:
- Employers create online accounts.
- Submit a single registration for each beneficiary.
- If selected, file full petitions during the set window.
Duplicate registrations can lead to denial.
Employer Implications
The beneficiary-centric policy and new organizational account rules mean:
- Fewer shortcuts and more planning are required.
- Employers need accurate job descriptions and clean documentation tying the specialty role to the degree requirement (a core H-1B test).
- Stricter job code enforcement has raised the bar for some occupations.
- Employers should expect to show why a bachelor’s degree (or higher) in a specific field is needed and how the worker’s skills meet that need.
Upside: a fairer lottery reduces noise from mass, duplicate filings and rewards genuine hiring plans.
Candidate Implications (Indian Professionals)
The message for candidates: fit matters.
- Roles aligning clearly with degrees and work history perform better under scrutiny.
- Documentation must be tidy and consistent—from job offer letters to project summaries explaining duties.
- Alternatives some candidates consider include:
- Canada’s tech programs
- The L-1 for intra-company transfers
- The O-1 for extraordinary ability
But for many Indian professionals, H-1B remains the main path to long-term U.S. work.
Example Scenario
A Bengaluru-based machine learning engineer selected for a Houston healthcare analytics firm:
- Employer maps the job to a clear SOC code.
- Explains how model-building requires advanced math and programming.
- Connects duties to the worker’s degree and past projects.
Careful alignment reduces delays and increases the chance of timely approval before the October 1 start date.
Integrity, Politics, and the Road Ahead
Labor groups and some lawmakers remain concerned about wage pressure and preference for foreign hires when domestic candidates are available. These concerns shape ongoing policy debates.
- USCIS has focused on system integrity; the collapse of multiple registrations in FY 2025 suggests the crackdown is working.
- Analysis by VisaVerge.com indicates the beneficiary-centric shift curbed mass registration behavior and improved fairness for genuine applicants without changing the statutory cap.
Indian officials see room for closer cooperation and caution against extremes. Their stance: both countries lose if the door is closed too fast, but abuse must be prevented.
No major legislative overhaul is expected soon, though politics will keep the issue in play. Company leaders will continue to push for more visas in fast-growing fields, and Indian officials will keep pointing to the data: lower duplicate filings, steady demand, and a pipeline that fills hard roles.
Practical Takeaways and Reminders
For applicants and employers planning the next cycle, keep these points in mind:
- Annual cap: 85,000.
- USCIS will continue beneficiary-centric selection.
- Registration fee for FY 2026 is scheduled to be $215.
- Keep records tight, align degrees to job duties, and plan early.
Official guidance and updates: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations-and-fashion-models.
Indian officials sum up the stakes succinctly: the H-1B visa works best when it helps American companies do the work only they can do, with the people best suited to do it—supporting growth, innovation, and lives built across borders.
This Article in a Nutshell
The H-1B visa remains central to U.S. access to specialized global talent, with Indian officials defending its role amid renewed political debate. FY2025 registrations dropped to 479,953 (a 38.6% decline) while USCIS counted 470,342 eligible registrations and selected 120,603 to offset attrition; unique beneficiaries stayed near 442,000. A shift to beneficiary-centric selection and anti-fraud reforms slashed multiple registrations from 408,891 to 47,314. The annual cap remains 85,000, and USCIS plans to raise the registration fee to $215 for FY2026. Employers now face higher documentation and organizational-account requirements; candidates must align job duties tightly with degrees. Indian nationals continue to represent a large share of approvals. Despite increased scrutiny and administrative burdens, demand still outstrips supply and the H-1B remains a key path for U.S.–India talent flows and innovation.
