this H-1B visa A report citing immigration experts said that the registration process for fiscal year 2027 has ended, and the number of applications this year is expected to be about 30% to 50% lower than last year. While the decline affected large I.T. outsourcing company Experts say the revised rules also provide opportunities for other companies.
The decline in applications is linked to employers taking a cautious approach. Many people are choosing not to file this year due to higher fees visa fee and the uncertainty surrounding changes to the lottery system, economic times The report quoted experts.
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Shilpa Malik, managing attorney at VisaNation Law Group, said she has personally seen filings drop by about 50% from last year, while other attorneys estimate the drop to be about 30%.
So, who benefits from the rules?
The new rules affect large outsourcing companies but also create advantages for some groups. These include:
- American master’s degree holder
- Mid-sized companies prepare to offer higher salaries to professionals
- Early identification of smaller companies that have a hard time competing with the bulk applications of large outsourcing companies
The media quoted Malik as saying: “Previously, these companies were often discouraged by the dilution opportunities brought by large outsourcing companies. Now the playing field is level, and they feel they have a legal and fair opportunity to attract talent.”
Master’s degree holders in the U.S. are likely to benefit the most due to caps on master’s degrees and a shift toward higher-skilled, higher-paying jobs, she added.
When will the selection results be announced?
The registration window closes on March 19, after which the selection process is expected to begin.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (immigration office) plans to notify selected applicants through their online accounts by March 31, 2026.
Each year, the United States issues 85,000 H-1B visas, subject to annual caps:
- 65,000 Special Occupation Visas, which require at least a bachelor’s degree in a specific field.
- 20,000 additional visas for applicants who have earned a master’s degree or higher from a U.S. university.
