USCIS receives around 500,000 H-1B petitions in a typical year. Computer and mathematical occupations account for 62 percent of approvals. The data show denial volumes, layered fees, and processing times that affect employer outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- $1,500 public law fee for certain employers applies to H-1B petitions (as applicable) meaning a further cost component can apply based on employer status.
- In fiscal year 2023, USCIS reported 18,000 H-1B denials meaning denials can create wasted filing costs for employers when petitions do not meet statutory/regulatory requirements.
- Premium Processing costs $2,805 (as listed by USCIS) meaning employers pay additional fees to get decisions within 15 days.
- USCIS received 507,000 H-1B petitions in FY 2022 meaning petition volumes were similarly high prior to FY 2023.
- USCIS received 481,000 H-1B petitions in FY 2021 meaning annual petition volume remained near the ~0.5M range.
- Median processing time for H-1B petitions under normal processing was 3 months (FY 2023 processing times reported by USCIS) meaning most cases were processed relatively quickly for those meeting standard timelines.
- In FY 2023, Computer and Mathematical occupations accounted for 62% of approved H-1B petitions meaning approvals are disproportionately in tech and related specialties.
- In FY 2022, Computer and Mathematical occupations accounted for 61% of approved H-1B petitions meaning the concentration persists year over year.
- In FY 2021, Computer and Mathematical occupations accounted for 60% of approved H-1B petitions meaning the pattern remains stable.
In FY 2023, most H 1B petitions were approved, but high volumes mean costs can be wasted on denials.
Related reading
01 · Category
Cost Analysis7 stats
01
$1,500 public law fee for certain employers applies to H-1B petitions (as applicable) meaning a further cost component can apply based on employer status.[1]
02
In fiscal year 2023, USCIS reported 18,000 H-1B denials meaning denials can create wasted filing costs for employers when petitions do not meet statutory/regulatory requirements.[1]
03
Premium Processing costs $2,805 (as listed by USCIS) meaning employers pay additional fees to get decisions within 15 days.[1]
04
USCIS filing fee for Form I-129 (H-1B) is $460 (plus other fees) meaning base filing costs are non-trivial even before add-on fees.[1]
05
The H-1B specialty occupation filing requires Form I-129 for each worker meaning employers must pay per beneficiary cost components rather than pooled costs.[1]
06
A U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report estimates that the 2010s H-1B system had administrative processing costs; specifically, GAO reported USCIS cost per petition categories in its analysis, providing a cost benchmark meaning administrative overhead exists for government handling.[2]
07
USCIS requires employer documentation and site visits as part of compliance checks under some circumstances meaning compliance-related costs can be material.[1]
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
For H-1B Cost Analysis, the numbers show how expenses add up quickly since employers may face a $460 base I-129 filing fee plus add-ons like the $2,805 premium processing and a possible $1,500 public law fee, while FY 2023’s 18,000 denials can mean significant wasted costs when petitions do not succeed.
02 · Category
Employer And Demand3 stats
01
USCIS received 507,000 H-1B petitions in FY 2022 meaning petition volumes were similarly high prior to FY 2023.[1]
02
USCIS received 481,000 H-1B petitions in FY 2021 meaning annual petition volume remained near the ~0.5M range.[1]
03
Median processing time for H-1B petitions under normal processing was 3 months (FY 2023 processing times reported by USCIS) meaning most cases were processed relatively quickly for those meeting standard timelines.[3]
Interpretation
Employer And Demand Interpretation
From the employer and demand perspective, USCIS’s H 1B petition intake stayed consistently high at about 507,000 in FY 2022 and 481,000 in FY 2021, indicating sustained employer demand and a steady pipeline of filings into the roughly 0.5 million range.
More related reading
03 · Category
Industry Trends10 stats
01
In FY 2023, Computer and Mathematical occupations accounted for 62% of approved H-1B petitions meaning approvals are disproportionately in tech and related specialties.[1]
02
In FY 2022, Computer and Mathematical occupations accounted for 61% of approved H-1B petitions meaning the concentration persists year over year.[1]
03
In FY 2021, Computer and Mathematical occupations accounted for 60% of approved H-1B petitions meaning the pattern remains stable.[1]
04
In FY 2023, the top 10 employers accounted for 11.4% of approved H-1B petitions meaning concentration among large users is meaningful.[1]
05
In FY 2023, 3,200+ employers filed H-1B petitions meaning the program is used by a broad set of firms beyond only the largest companies.[1]
06
In FY 2023, the average number of H-1B petitions per employer was 106 meaning typical employers file more than one petition.[1]
07
A 2023 study found that H-1B programs are associated with higher employment growth for high-skill occupations; specifically, treated establishments experienced 5.2% higher employment growth over the next two years (as reported in the study) meaning H-1B access can correlate with growth outcomes.[4]
08
A 2022 peer-reviewed study reported that increases in H-1B visa availability led to a 0.3% to 0.5% increase in patenting in certain firms (results range as reported) meaning immigration-driven talent supply can affect innovation outputs.[5]
09
A 2021 paper reported that H-1B eligibility expansions were associated with increased R&D intensity by about 1.5% (reported coefficient) meaning the program can shift firm innovation behavior.[5]
10
In FY 2023, USCIS reported that 81% of H-1B petitions were approved (approved / decisions) meaning approval rates are generally high even with lottery uncertainty.[1]
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Across FY 2021 to FY 2023, Computer and Mathematical roles consistently dominated approved H-1B petitions at 60% to 62%, showing a persistent industry concentration even as the program’s broad usage remains clear with 3,200+ employers filing and an average of 106 petitions per employer.
report visual · Key figures
H-1B petition volumes stayed near the 0.5M range before FY 2023
USCIS received a steady number of H-1B petitions in FY 2021 and FY 2022, setting the context for FY 2023 outcomes and lottery demand.
481,000
USCIS received 481,000 H-1B petitions in FY 2021 meaning annual petition volume remained near the ~0.5M range.
507,000
USCIS received 507,000 H-1B petitions in FY 2022 meaning petition volumes were similarly high prior to FY 2023.
$1,500
$1,500 public law fee for certain employers applies to H-1B petitions (as applicable) meaning a further cost component c
source-verifieduscis.gov2022
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Diana Reeves. (2026, February 13). H1B Lottery Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/h1b-lottery-statistics
MLA
Diana Reeves. "H1B Lottery Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/h1b-lottery-statistics.
Chicago
Diana Reeves. 2026. "H1B Lottery Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/h1b-lottery-statistics.
Sources & references
5 sources cited across this report