Business Insights and Market Implications Analysis

Top US Tech Companies Leading H-1B Approvals

• Amazon leads with 9,265 H-1B approvals in 2024, followed by Cognizant (6,321), Google (5,364), Meta (4,844), and Microsoft (4,725).
• These companies rely on H-1B visas to fill specialized roles in engineering, research, and development, critical for maintaining global competitiveness.

Indian IT Firms as Major Beneficiaries

• Indian-origin IT companies dominate the H-1B landscape:
  • Infosys: 8,140 approvals
  • Tata Consultancy Services (TCS): 5,274 approvals
  • HCL America: 2,953 approvals
  • Wipro: 1,634 approvals
  • Capgemini America: 2,795 approvals

Market Trends and Business Impact

• The H-1B visa program is essential for US companies to access highly skilled foreign professionals in engineering, R&D, and other specialized roles.
• Indian IT firms are leveraging the program to meet global demand for skilled professionals, reinforcing their position as key players in the global tech market.

Competitive Dynamics

• US tech giants like Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Apple are competing with Indian IT companies for H-1B approvals, highlighting the growing competition between US and Indian tech industries.
• The reliance on H-1B visas underscores the importance of skilled labor in driving innovation and economic growth.

Regulatory Changes and Long-Term Effects

• A notable change: the US Department of Labor is deleting H-1B records older than five years from the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) system.
• This deletion poses challenges for applicants and legal representatives, impacting access to historical data for employment and legal purposes.

Strategic Considerations

• Companies are increasingly dependent on H-1B visas to maintain workforce competitiveness, particularly in specialized fields like engineering and R&D.
• The regulatory changes may influence future visa applications and workforce planning strategies for both US and Indian tech companies.