A startling new analysis has uncovered a dramatic decline in the number of H-1B visas being granted to employees of major Indian-based IT companies. According to data from the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), the top seven India-centric firms witnessed a staggering 70% drop in H-1B visa approvals for initial employment in Fiscal Year 2025 compared to a decade earlier in FY15.
A Decade of Decline: The Numbers Tell the Story
The NFAP report, which scrutinized official USCIS data, found that these seven leading companies secured approval for only 4,573 H-1B petitions for new employment in FY25. This figure is not only 70% lower than the FY15 numbers but also represents a significant 37% decrease from just the previous fiscal year, FY24. The analysis clarified that these 'initial employment' petitions are typically for new hires and count against the annual H-1B cap of 65,000, with an additional 20,000 exemptions for holders of advanced degrees from US universities.
The impact of this trend is so pronounced that only three Indian-based companies managed to rank among the top 25 employers with approved H-1B petitions for initial employment in the last financial year.
Indian Firms vs. US Tech Titans: A Shifting Landscape
When compared to American technology behemoths, the data reveals a stark contrast. While Indian IT firms are receiving fewer visas, US companies are ramping up their hiring of foreign talent through the H-1B program.
Amazon led the pack in FY25 with 4,644 H-1B visa approvals for initial employment. It was followed by Meta Platforms (Facebook) with 1,555 approvals, Microsoft with 1,394, and Google with 1,050 petitions approved. This indicates a major shift in which types of companies are most actively utilizing the H-1B program to bring in skilled professionals.
Adapting to a New Reality: Strategy and Policy Shifts
Stuart Anderson, the Executive Director of NFAP, interprets these numbers as evidence of a strategic pivot by Indian IT companies. He suggests that these firms are now delivering IT services to the US market while relying on relatively few H-1B visas. Conversely, he notes that the largest US tech companies are aggressively hiring foreign-born talent, including recent graduates from American universities, to fuel their massive investments in artificial intelligence.
The report provided a broader picture of the H-1B landscape, noting that a total of 28,277 different employers in the United States were approved to hire at least one new H-1B visa holder in FY25. The distribution was widespread, with 61% of employers approved for just a single petition and a vast majority (95%) approved for 10 or fewer applications.
This decline in H-1B approvals for Indian companies occurs against a backdrop of intense debate in the US over highly skilled immigration, workforce shortages, and American competitiveness. The issue has gained further prominence due to President Donald Trump's continued crackdown on immigration, including a proposal to impose a hefty $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications.
Interestingly, despite his restrictive stance, Trump recently indicated a willingness to welcome skilled immigrants who can teach American workers to develop advanced technologies like semiconductors and missiles, acknowledging that this position might attract criticism from his base.
