Washington, USA:  Securing an H-1B visa to work in the United States remains a significant goal for many IT professionals. These visas, which are typically granted to skilled foreign workers, including many Indian tech experts, are in high demand.
However, this demand has seen a notable dip, with H-1B applications reaching their lowest level in four years, coinciding with Donald Trump’s return to the presidency.

As per data from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), H-1B applications for the 2026 fiscal year hit a four-year low. The USCIS reported a 26.9% drop in eligible registrations compared to FY2025. A total of 358,737 applications were submitted this year, significantly fewer than the 480,000 in FY25. By comparison, FY25 saw 470,342 eligible entries, with 343,981 ultimately accepted. FY22 had even fewer, with 308,613 eligible submissions.

There has also been a decrease in the number of "special beneficiaries"—those applicants who previously registered multiple times—with the figure falling from 442,000 to 339,000. The average number of registrations per applicant dropped slightly from 1.06 to 1.01. This year, just 7,828 applicants had multiple entries, compared to 47,314 the previous year. The number of companies taking part remained steady at approximately 57,600. Some analysts attribute the decline to uncertainty surrounding immigration policies under President Trump. However, the USCIS has denied this, stating the decline stems from stricter efforts to prevent fraudulent or ineligible entries.

Policy shifts under Trump’s leadership, including the reinstatement of the “catch-and-revoke” rule, where visas are canceled if the holder has previously broken U.S. laws, are seen as complicating the process. Additionally, increased visa processing fees have burdened employers. The H-1B registration fee, for example, rose from $10 to $215 in January, a change that disproportionately impacts startups. Mamta Shekhawat, founder of Grading.com, remarked that smaller companies have been hit especially hard. While the dip in H-1B demand is not dramatic compared to last year, the total number of registrations for the 85,000 available visas in FY2026 still approached 350,000.