H-1B Applications Fall 38 % As U.S. Favors Advanced Degree Holders

Photo: American Immigration Council

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC- H-1B visa applications fell by more than 38% this year following changes introduced by the Trump administration that shifted selections toward applicants with advanced U.S. degrees and higher-paying job offers.

According to data released on May 21 by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, properly submitted registrations for the fiscal year 2027 H-1B cap dropped to 211,600 from 343,981 the previous year.

USCIS said 71.5% of selected applicants this year held a U.S. master’s degree or higher, compared with 57% last year. The figures indicate a larger share of selected applicants were international students already studying in the United States.

The administration’s revised system includes higher application fees, stricter wage standards and changes to the lottery process that officials said were aimed at reducing misuse of the program.

In a statement posted on X, USCIS said the latest data showed “the days of abusing the program with mass, low-wage registrations are over,” adding that the program was better serving its intended purpose of attracting highly skilled workers while protecting American wages and job opportunities.

USCIS also said only 17.7% of selected applications fell within the lowest wage category.

The H-1B program remains one of the primary employment pathways for Indian professionals in the U.S. technology and engineering sectors. It also continues to be a major point of debate in Washington, where critics argue some employers use the visa system to hire lower-cost foreign labor.