The H-1B visa programme allows US companies to hire foreign professionals in specialised fields such as information technology, engineering, healthcare, finance and other important fields: Reports
HYDERABAD: Despite stricter rules, higher costs and blockades imposed by the Trump administration, the number of H-1B visa applications from Indians processed by the United States has gone up a shade in 2025 against the figure the previous year. According to data released by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), 2,83,772 new H-1B applications from Indian nationals were processed this year. The figure is a shade more than the number recorded in 2024 — 2,83,397.
The H-1B visa programme allows US companies to hire foreign professionals in specialised fields such as information technology, engineering, healthcare, finance and other important fields.
Indian professionals form the largest share of H-1B visa holders, with many employed by major technology firms in the US. According to USCIS, 69.9 per cent of the applicants were from India in 2025.
Immigration experts stated that during the Trump administration, several restrictions were introduced to make the visa process stricter, but the demand is still high. Rajeswar Rao, an immigration analyst in Hyderabad said. “The US increased the visa fees, application scrutiny became tougher, and employers were asked to provide more proof regarding wages and job requirements. They even added a $1,00,000 fee to the additional charges for new applications.”
“These measures had raised concerns among Indian IT companies and professionals who feared a sharp fall in approvals. But the high number of applications shows that American companies still depend heavily on skilled Indian workers. Many firms are facing shortages of specialised talent and continue to recruit professionals from India to fill critical roles”, Rajeswar Rao added.
The data by USCIS also revealed that 62 per cent of all H-1B holders, with 2,52,088 H-1B processed applicants, were working in computer and tech-related jobs. They further said that the number of unique employers for the 2026 financial year is similar and comparable to the 2025 financial year’s unique employers.
