Donald Trump Effect: H1B Visa Count Drops 50%!

It is already known that the United States president Donald Trump has been making life very hard for the Indian community in the United States. This is clearly visible if we look at the latest statistics associated with the H1B policy.

The U.S. H‑1B visa registration process for the fiscal year 2027 has seen a large drop in participation, with filings reportedly down by 30% to 50% compared with last year, according to immigration attorneys tracking employer behaviour.

This decline comes as many companies hesitate to file registrations amid higher visa fees and major changes to the H‑1B selection system.  For the new cycle, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has shifted from a purely random lottery to a wage‑weighted selection system, where applicants with higher offered salaries have significantly greater chances of being picked.

The move is intended to reward employers offering competitive compensation and to prioritise highly skilled talent. Under this system, large tech companies and well‑established employers that can offer higher wage levels are emerging as clear favourites in the lottery. Firms in sectors such as technology, finance and specialised engineering, which typically pay above average salaries even for entry‑level roles, are now more likely to secure visas for their international recruits.

By contrast, smaller firms and those that traditionally filed large numbers of lower‑wage registrations may see their odds of selection drop sharply, prompting many to reduce overall participation in the H‑1B program this year.

The changes mark a major shift in U.S. skilled worker immigration policy, influencing how companies plan talent sourcing and global hiring strategies.