H-1B Visa Applications Fall 38 Percent After Rule Changes

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Thursday that properly submitted applications for the 2027 H-1B visa allocation fell to 211,600 from 343,981 the previous year. 5 percent decline to stricter wage rules and a higher filing fee for new applications. USCIS said the changes reduced the number of low-wage registrations and increased the share of applicants holding advanced degrees.

U.S. master's degree or higher, up from 57 percent in the prior cycle. 7 percent. USCIS posted on X that the data indicated the end of mass low-wage registrations and better alignment with the program's goal of attracting higher-skilled workers.

O'Brien, fellow at the Institute for Progress, said the weighted lottery produced a modest shift toward higher-skilled applicants but recommended replacing the lottery with a salary-based ranking. Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, wrote that the changes were improvements but called for abolishing the H-1B program entirely along with Optional Practical Training.

Michael Taiwo, an entrepreneur, said the $100,000 fee reduced competition from abroad and benefited applicants already in the United States. The next registration window is expected to open early next year.