H-1B visa approvals for Indian IT firms fall by 70% since 2015
The Indian IT services industry has been facing significant challenges in recent years, particularly when it comes to securing H-1B visas for its employees. According to a report by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), Indian IT services companies have registered a staggering 70% drop in H-1B visa approvals since 2015. This decline has been steady, with the top seven Indian IT firms securing just 4,573 initial-employment petitions in FY 2025, marking a 37% reduction since last year.
The NFAP report, which cites data from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), reveals that the decline in H-1B visa approvals has been consistent over the years. In 2015, Indian IT firms received a significant number of H-1B visa approvals, but since then, the numbers have been steadily declining. The report attributes this decline to the changing landscape of the US immigration policy, particularly with regards to the H-1B visa program.
The H-1B visa program is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. The program is highly sought after by Indian IT firms, which rely heavily on the visa to send their employees to work on projects in the US. However, in recent years, the US government has introduced several changes to the program, making it more difficult for Indian IT firms to secure visas for their employees.
One of the main reasons for the decline in H-1B visa approvals is the increase in scrutiny of visa applications. The USCIS has become more stringent in its evaluation of visa applications, and has introduced several new requirements that make it more difficult for Indian IT firms to secure visas. Additionally, the US government has introduced several new policies, such as the “Buy American, Hire American” executive order, which prioritizes the hiring of American workers over foreign workers.
The decline in H-1B visa approvals has significant implications for the Indian IT services industry. Many Indian IT firms rely heavily on the H-1B visa program to send their employees to work on projects in the US. The decline in visa approvals means that these firms will have to find alternative ways to staff their projects, which could increase costs and reduce their competitiveness.
The NFAP report also reveals that Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) was the only Indian IT company among the top five firms to receive H-1B visa approvals in FY 2025. TCS received 1,353 initial-employment petitions, followed by Infosys, which received 737 petitions. Other Indian IT firms, such as Wipro, HCL Technologies, and Tech Mahindra, also saw significant declines in H-1B visa approvals.
The decline in H-1B visa approvals is not just limited to Indian IT firms. The NFAP report reveals that the overall number of H-1B visa approvals has declined significantly since 2015. In FY 2025, the USCIS approved just 58,633 initial-employment petitions, down from 119,883 in FY 2015. This decline has significant implications for the US economy, as the H-1B visa program is an important source of skilled labor for many US companies.
The Indian IT services industry is lobbying hard to reverse the decline in H-1B visa approvals. The industry has argued that the H-1B visa program is essential for the growth and competitiveness of the US economy, and that the decline in visa approvals will have significant negative consequences for the industry. The industry has also argued that the US government should introduce policies that make it easier for Indian IT firms to secure H-1B visas, such as increasing the annual cap on visa approvals.
In conclusion, the decline in H-1B visa approvals for Indian IT firms is a significant challenge for the industry. The 70% decline in visa approvals since 2015 is a stark reminder of the changing landscape of the US immigration policy, and the need for Indian IT firms to adapt to these changes. The industry will need to find alternative ways to staff their projects, and to lobby hard to reverse the decline in H-1B visa approvals. As the NFAP report reveals, the decline in H-1B visa approvals has significant implications for the Indian IT services industry, and for the US economy as a whole.
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