H-1B Visa Registrations by Major IT Firms Drop 92% in Latest US Data

The White House has reported a 92% decline in H-1B visa registrations by the largest IT staffing and outsourcing firms, falling from 24,946 to 2,055. This sharp drop reflects the impact of ongoing restrictions under Proclamation 10973 issued on September 19, 2025, aimed at addressing abuses in the H-1B visa program.

The administration said the restrictions enacted by the 2025 Proclamation have been highly effective, but the underlying conditions necessitating these measures persist. The proclamation, titled Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, was introduced to curb significant abuses of the H-1B visa program.

Data from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for fiscal year 2024 shows that 71% of approved H-1B petitions were for beneficiaries born in India, compared with about 12% for China. The White House also highlighted a shift towards higher-skilled and higher-paid applicants, noting that registrations for beneficiaries holding at least a US master's degree rose from 45.1% of total registrants for fiscal year 2026 to 66.1% for the following year.

Consular processing requests have also fallen sharply, decreasing by nearly 97% between the fiscal year 2025 and fiscal year 2027 cap seasons. These figures indicate a tightening of the program and a focus on more qualified applicants.

Experts say the move was necessary because the conditions that led to the original restrictions continue to exist. The administration's measures aim to enhance program integrity and interagency coordination in managing the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program.