H-1B Sponsorship Declines in 2024: US Tech Giants and Indian IT Firms Shift Focus

The landscape of H-1B visa sponsorship has shifted significantly in 2024, with major players in the US tech industry and Indian IT firms scaling back on foreign hiring. According to data from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), leading companies such as Amazon, Infosys, Google, and IBM have substantially reduced their H-1B visa approvals this year.

While Amazon still tops the list with 9,265 H-1B approvals, this represents a sharp decline from over 11,000 approvals in 2023. Similarly, Infosys, Cognizant, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) have reduced their sponsorships, aligning with a broader trend among Indian IT firms to prioritize local hiring and Green Card sponsorships over reliance on the H-1B program.

Despite these reductions, Indian nationals continue to dominate the H-1B visa landscape, comprising over 72% of recipients in 2023. However, the 2024 data signals a noticeable change, as US-based companies appear to be focusing more on domestic talent or exploring alternative pathways for foreign employment.

Top 10 H-1B Sponsors in 2024:

Amazon Com Services LLC: 9,265 approvals

Infosys Limited: 8,140 approvals

Cognizant Technology Solutions: 6,321 approvals

Google LLC: 5,364 approvals

Tata Consultancy Services Limited: 5,274 approvals

Meta Platforms Inc: 4,844 approvals

Microsoft Corporation: 4,725 approvals

Apple Inc: 3,873 approvals

HCL America Inc: 2,953 approvals

IBM Corporation: 2,906 approvals

While Amazon continues to dominate the list, Indian IT firms like Infosys and TCS, both with significant US operations, have seen marked declines in sponsorship numbers. The fiscal year 2024 (October 1 to September 30) highlights a broader trend of reduced approvals across nearly all top sponsors, signaling a re-evaluation of strategies for employing foreign talent.

The H-1B program, historically vital for hiring skilled professionals in fields like technology and engineering, appears to be entering a new phase. Companies are increasingly focusing on domestic talent acquisition and alternative visa pathways, reshaping the foreign employment landscape in the United States.