Recent federal data reveals a marked decline in H-1B visa applications submitted by major technology companies toward the end of last year, amid intensified layoffs and stricter visa regulations. The H-1B program provides temporary residency for foreign professionals with university degrees to work in the United States, serving as a vital recruitment tool for tech firms requiring highly specialized talent. Since the number of applicants typically exceeds the annual cap of 85,000 visas, slots are allocated through a lottery system.
Since last September, the program has undergone several changes, making the application process more costly and increasing scrutiny on applicants. At the same time, companies such as Amazon.com, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Inc., Microsoft, and others have conducted multiple rounds of layoffs.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, H-1B applications filed by some of these firms during the first quarter of fiscal year 2026—covering October to December—showed a clear reduction compared to the same period the previous year. Amazon.com remained the company with the highest total number of approved applications, yet also saw the steepest drop: from 4,647 in Q1 FY2025 to 3,057 in Q1 FY2026. Other top visa sponsors, including Apple, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Inc., and Microsoft, also recorded lower approval numbers year-over-year, with Meta and Alphabet seeing their figures nearly halved.
Other technology firms such as IBM, Salesforce, and Tesla Motors also reported declines compared to the prior year. Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Inc., Microsoft, and Intel declined to comment. Amazon.com, Apple, Cisco, IBM, NVIDIA, Oracle, Salesforce, and Tesla Motors did not respond to emailed inquiries.
Despite large tech companies investing at unprecedented levels in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence, their overall workforce sizes are shrinking. Many are cutting jobs and shifting toward smaller, more specialized teams.
One company bucked the trend: NVIDIA’s H-1B applications increased from 369 in Q1 FY2025 to 434 in Q1 FY2026. CEO Jensen Huang has stated that even if the Trump administration imposes a $100,000 fee on new overseas H-1B applications, NVIDIA will continue hiring immigrant talent.
It should be noted that these figures reflect certifications by the Labor Department and do not represent final visa approvals or lottery outcomes. Multiple applications may correspond to the same employee. Additionally, quarterly data offers only a preliminary snapshot, and full-year results may vary due to hiring cycles or other factors.
Explaining the Decline in H-1B Applications from Large Tech Firms
There are at least two plausible explanations for the broad-based decline: policy changes in Washington have made the program more complex and expensive, and companies themselves may simply need fewer employees.
The Trump administration introduced new rules prioritizing higher-wage applicants in the lottery and imposing a $100,000 fee on new overseas applications. Officials say these measures aim to combat fraud and encourage employers to hire American workers first.
However, attorneys note that these changes could actually benefit large tech firms, which tend to pay high salaries and often recruit existing visa holders or recent graduates already in the U.S. Even so, Jason Finkelman, a Texas-based attorney specializing in immigration and labor law, said companies now face heightened scrutiny across all visa applications.
Finkelman pointed out that H-1B applications in the first quarter are typically lower, as this period mainly involves filings for visa holders changing employers or extending their stay. Applications tend to surge in the second quarter when the H-1B lottery begins and firms compete for the 85,000 available slots.
A broader slowdown in hiring across the industry has further dampened demand. Many companies that expanded aggressively in recent years are now in a streamlining phase, characterized by ongoing layoffs and hiring freezes. “I think employers are being much more selective about who they sponsor now,” Finkelman remarked.
In recent years, Amazon.com, Meta Platforms, Inc., Alphabet, and Microsoft have all implemented staff reductions. Amazon.com cut 16,000 corporate roles in January, following 14,000 layoffs in October, as part of an ongoing efficiency plan. Meta laid off hundreds in March. Microsoft underwent multiple rounds of cuts last year, eliminating 15,000 positions between May and July. Alphabet has also carried out smaller-scale reductions in recent years.
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