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, and one of the major concerns has been the decline in H-1B visa approvals. 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 and consistent, with the top seven Indian IT firms securing just 4,573 initial-employment petitions in the fiscal year 2025. This marks a 37% reduction since last year, highlighting the difficulties faced by Indian IT companies in securing H-1B visas for their employees.
The NFAP report, which cites data from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), highlights the significant decline in H-1B visa approvals for Indian IT firms. The report notes that the top seven Indian IT firms, which include Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro, HCL America, Tech Mahindra, Larsen & Toubro Infotech, and Mindtree, secured a total of 4,573 initial-employment petitions in FY 2025. This is a significant drop from the 14,355 approvals received in FY 2015, representing a decline of 68%.
The report also highlights the changing landscape of H-1B visa approvals, with TCS being the only Indian IT company among the top five firms. The decline in H-1B visa approvals has been attributed to several factors, including the increased scrutiny of visa applications, changes in the visa approval process, and the rising demand for digital transformation and cloud services. The NFAP report notes that the decline in H-1B visa approvals has been more pronounced for Indian IT firms, with the top seven firms experiencing a decline of 37% since last year.
The decline in H-1B visa approvals has significant implications for the Indian IT services industry, which relies heavily on the H-1B visa program to deploy skilled workers to client sites in the United States. The H-1B visa program allows US employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations, and Indian IT firms have been among the largest users of the program. However, the decline in H-1B visa approvals has forced Indian IT firms to explore alternative strategies, including hiring local talent, setting up delivery centers in the United States, and investing in digital transformation and cloud services.
The NFAP report notes that the decline in H-1B visa approvals has been driven by several factors, including the increased scrutiny of visa applications and the rising demand for digital transformation and cloud services. The report also highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the H-1B visa program, with many applicants facing delays and difficulties in securing visas. The report notes that the decline in H-1B visa approvals has been more pronounced for Indian IT firms, with the top seven firms experiencing a decline of 37% since last year.
The decline in H-1B visa approvals has significant implications for the Indian IT services industry, which is one of the largest employers of H-1B visa holders. The industry has been facing significant challenges in recent years, including the decline in H-1B visa approvals, the rise of protectionism, and the increasing demand for digital transformation and cloud services. The NFAP report notes that the decline in H-1B visa approvals has forced Indian IT firms to explore alternative strategies, including hiring local talent, setting up delivery centers in the United States, and investing in digital transformation and cloud services.
In conclusion, the decline in H-1B visa approvals for Indian IT firms is a significant concern for the industry, with the top seven firms experiencing a decline of 37% since last year. The NFAP report highlights the challenges faced by Indian IT firms in securing H-1B visas for their employees, and the need for alternative strategies to address the decline in visa approvals. The report also notes that the decline in H-1B visa approvals has significant implications for the Indian IT services industry, which relies heavily on the H-1B visa program to deploy skilled workers to client sites in the United States.
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