The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that it has met the congressionally set quota for H-1B visa applications for the fiscal year 2025. This total includes 65,000 visas under the regular cap, along with an additional 20,000 visas allocated for applicants holding advanced degrees from U.S. institutions, commonly referred to as the master’s cap.

USCIS stated that it will continue to accept and process petitions aimed at extending the stay of current H-1B workers in the U.S., modifying the terms of their employment, enabling them to switch employers, or allowing them to take on additional H-1B roles simultaneously.

Notifications for Non-Selection in Progress

In the coming days, USCIS will inform applicants who were not selected via their online accounts. The status for those not selected will show as :

“Not Selected : Your registration was not picked, so you cannot submit an H-1B cap petition with this registration.”

Although the numerical caps for H-1B visas have been reached, USCIS will continue to accept and process specific petitions that are exempt from these limits. These include petitions to :

  • Extend the stay of current H-1B visa holders.
  • Change the employment conditions for current H-1B workers.
  • Allow H-1B holders to switch employers or take on concurrent roles.

 

A decline in H-1B sponsorships has been noted.

The H-1B visa program enables U.S. businesses to employ foreign professionals in specialized fields that require advanced expertise and skills.

A look at the 2024 data from USCIS shows a big decline in H-1B visa sponsorships from leading U.S. companies. While Indian nationals continue to dominate the H-1B visa category, many leading firms, especially in the tech industry, have drastically reduced their approvals, indicating a change in their talent acquisition strategies.

Amazon remains the top H-1B sponsor but saw a steep decline in approvals, dropping from over 11,000 in 2023 to just above 9,000 in 2024. Similarly, major Indian IT companies like Infosys and TCS also experienced notable reductions, pointing to a larger trend of stricter visa issuance policies.

Step 1 : Secure a Sponsor

Obtaining an H-1B visa begins with finding a company willing to sponsor your application. If you are currently in the U.S. on a student visa, consider asking your employer if they can sponsor your transition to an H-1B visa. If not, consulting an immigration attorney can help you explore alternative pathways.

Your sponsor can be either your current employer or a new one, as long as they are prepared to support your H-1B application.

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