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Federal information reveals a crisp disagreement successful however the tech companies are approaching the H-1B visa program. According to a study by Business Insider, portion Google, Meta and Amazon person chopped backmost connected the filings for caller hires, AI giants similar Anthropic, OpenAI and chipmaker Nvidia are expanding their usage of the program.
Out of each the large tech companies, Anthropic recorded the biggest year-over-year percent increase, with certified applications rising to 59 successful Q2 2026 from conscionable 10 a twelvemonth ago. OpenAI connected the different manus filed 63 applications, up from 20, portion the filings of Nvidia climbed to 765 from 641. Recruiters accidental that these companies are consenting to sorb higher costs and hurdles to unafraid elite talent. “The $100,000 H-1B visa interest represents a rounding mistake against the outgo of not landing the close researcher,” Raghu Shivakumar of Nexocean told BI.
Tech giants propulsion back
By contrast, Google saw a 64% diminution successful certified applications, reflecting broader headcount reductions done rolling occupation cuts. Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon besides reported less filings compared with past year. Analysts enactment that ample firms are restructuring astir smaller, specialized teams — oregon “pods” — and progressively comfy mounting up operations overseas to debar visa costs.
Policy changes adhd unit connected companies
The diminution comes amid important changes to the visa program.
New rules springiness higher-paid applicants amended likelihood successful the lottery, disadvantaging younger workers. A impermanent $100,000 interest for overseas applicants has further analyzable the process. Overall, US Citizenship and Immigration Services reported 211,600 decently submitted applications for the 2027 allocation, down from 343,981 the twelvemonth before.Immigration lawyer Justin Parsons said immoderate employers sat retired this year’s lottery to spot however the caller rules would play out.
Certified applications, reviewed by the Labor Department, guarantee migrant workers are paid reasonably and bash not displace existing employees, but they are not last visa approvals.
Talent warfare successful AI
Despite the hurdles, the biggest AI firms are doubling down. Recruiters accidental companies similar Anthropic and OpenAI person a “do immoderate it takes” mindset erstwhile it comes to hiring specialized researchers and engineers. With the H-1B lottery tilting toward experienced, higher-paid workers, the propulsion for elite endowment underscores however cardinal foreign-born experts person go to the AI endowment strategy.
