H-1B Under Fire After Indians Get 70% Approvals in FY25

The debate around the H-1B visa program has intensified once again after new USCIS data revealed the number of work visa approvals issued in Fiscal Year 2025.

According to the data highlighted by Eric Schmitt, a total of 406,348 H-1B approvals were issued during FY25. Out of these, 283,772 approvals reportedly went to Indian nationals, accounting for nearly 70% of the total.

The Republican Senator criticised the visa system and described the H-1B program as harmful to American workers. He argued that major technology companies use the program to hire lower-cost foreign labour while limiting opportunities for US employees.

The data further showed that nearly 62% of the approvals, which amounts to more than 252,000 visas, were linked to technology and IT-related jobs.

Another key point raised in the discussion was that nearly 72% of the approvals were extensions or restamps rather than fresh visa issuances. This indicates that a large portion of H-1B holders are already working in the United States.

Schmitt also referred to claims allegedly made by a former visa officer in India, who reportedly suggested that fraud levels among applicants could range between 70% and 90%.

However, these allegations remain unverified and have not been officially confirmed by US authorities.

On the other hand, immigration attorney Steven Brown offered a different explanation for the high number of Indian approvals.

According to him, Indian and Chinese applicants remain on H-1B visas for longer periods because of green card backlogs and country-wise caps in the immigration system.

He explained that applicants from many other countries are often able to move towards permanent residency within a single H-1B cycle. In contrast, Indian applicants frequently face waiting periods that can extend for decades.

As criticism of the H-1B program continues to grow in the United States, the latest approval data has added fresh momentum to the debate.

The issue is also increasing concerns within the Indian professional community, which remains one of the largest groups dependent on the H-1B visa pathway.