H-1B Visa Applications Drop 25% Amid Trump Policies and Fee Hike

Strategic Insights -

H-1B visa applications for FY26 fell 25% to 358,737 compared to the previous year, with a significant decline in shortlisted applications and a rise in the H-1B registration fee from $10 to $215. This sharp decline has been attributed to the fee hike and a weak US economy. India remains one of the top recipients of the 85,000 H-1B visas issued annually, which are widely used by US and Indian IT firms to deploy skilled workers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of H-1B visa applications for FY26 dropped 25% to 358,737, with a sharp decline in shortlisted applications to 27% (120,141) from the previous year.
  • The H-1B registration fee has been a significant deterrent, rising from $10 to $215, with more than 85,000 visas to be issued annually.
  • India remains a major beneficiary of the H-1B visa program, with a strong presence of Indian IT firms and a high demand for skilled workers.
  • The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated an investigation into EaseMyTrip CEO Nishant Pitti for allegedly colluding with a network of operators who channeled funds from the Mahadev betting app scam to manipulate stock prices of 25 listed companies.
  • Nazara Technologies has acquired UK-based console game publisher Curve Games for Rs 247 crore (approximately $28.8 million) to strengthen its presence in the global market and diversify into the lucrative PC and console gaming market.
  • Mobikwik's consolidated net loss widened to Rs 55 crore in the March quarter, with a sharp increase in lending-related expenses and a flat operating revenue of Rs 265 crore.
  • Microsoft has struck a deal with Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok AIS to host its models on Microsoft's Azure cloud platform, highlighting the evolving dynamics between Microsoft and OpenAI.

Statistics:

  • 358,737: The number of H-1B visa applications for FY26, a 25% drop from the previous year.
  • 120,141: The number of shortlisted H-1B visa applications, a 27% decline from the previous year.
  • $215: The new H-1B registration fee, a significant hike from the previous $10 fee.
  • Rs 55 crore: The consolidated net loss of Mobikwik for the March quarter, a sharp increase from the previous year.
  • Rs 1,164 crore: The operating revenue of Mobikwik for FY25, a 31% growth from the previous year.
  • Rs 247 crore: The deal amount for Nazara Technologies' acquisition of UK-based console game publisher Curve Games.
  • 85,000: The number of H-1B visas to be issued annually.

Sources:

  • United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
  • Enforcement Directorate (ED)
  • Nazara Technologies
  • Mobikwik
  • Microsoft
  • xAI