The United States — once the go-to destination for global tech talent — is witnessing a surprising trend: a 25% drop in H-1B visa applications for FY26. According to data from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), just 358,737 applications were received this year, compared to the previous year's surge. Out of these, only 120,141 have been selected, a dip from 135,137 in FY25. This shift signals more than just a paperwork slowdown; it reflects growing unease about the state of the American job market.
Layoffs and Laybacks: A Tech Industry in Flux
The American tech industry, once a magnet for global professionals, is undergoing a serious shake-up. Layoffs are no longer rare. In 2024 alone, Microsoft slashed 6,000 jobs — its biggest cut since 2023. Amazon axed 100 employees from its devices and services division, while Intel and Crowdstrike joined the wave. With uncertainty looming and companies tightening belts, the appeal of moving to the US under the H-1B program is understandably waning.
From $10 to $215: The Application Fee Hike That’s Hurting Dreams
Adding salt to the wound is the skyrocketing application fee. The Biden administration’s new fee rule has pushed the cost of applying from $10 to $215. For many aspiring tech workers — especially from India, who account for over 72% of all H-1B recipients — the financial burden is becoming a major deterrent.
India’s Talent Pipeline: Still Strong but Cautious
Indians have long dominated the H-1B landscape, holding 77% of the visas issued in 2022 and 72.3% in 2023. But with increased costs, fewer selections, and layoffs haunting the industry, even India’s brightest are beginning to rethink the American Dream.
Is the H-1B Bubble Finally Bursting?
What once symbolized global opportunity is now raising red flags. As the tech slowdown deepens and visa-related costs rise, aspiring professionals are left to wonder: is the American dream fading — or simply being redefined?
