With odds that rival the lottery but for stakes as high as your career, the H-1B visa landscape in 2023 was a story of soaring demand, shifting approval rates, and surprising statistics from who applies to what they earn.
Key Takeaways
- In FY 2023, USCIS approved 386,300 H-1B petitions for initial and continuing employment.
- USCIS received 442,000 H-1B petitions in FY 2023, with a selection rate of 19% via lottery.
- H-1B denial rate dropped to 2% in FY 2023 from 13% in FY 2018.
- Infosys sponsored 8,152 H-1B visas in 2023.
- Amazon approved 11,463 H-1B petitions in FY 2023.
- Cognizant Technology filed for 14,200 H-1B LCAs in 2023.
- India nationals received 72% of H-1B visas in FY 2023.
- China nationals accounted for 12% of H-1B approvals in 2023.
- 75% of H-1B beneficiaries hold master's degrees or higher.
- Computer-related occupations: 72% of H-1B approvals in FY 2023.
- Systems Analysts: 25,000 H-1B petitions approved in 2023.
- Software Developers: 150,000 H-1B beneficiaries in FY 2023.
- Average H-1B wage: $112,000 in FY 2023 LCAs.
- Computer occupations median wage: $118,500 for H-1B.
- Level I H-1B wage floor: $60,000 nationally in 2023.
H1B visas remain in high demand with low lottery odds and increasing approvals.
Approvals and Trends
1In FY 2023, USCIS approved 386,300 H-1B petitions for initial and continuing employment.
Verified2USCIS received 442,000 H-1B petitions in FY 2023, with a selection rate of 19% via lottery.
Verified3H-1B denial rate dropped to 2% in FY 2023 from 13% in FY 2018.
Verified4In FY 2022, 297,000 H-1B petitions were approved for continuing employment.
Directional5FY 2024 H-1B cap reached with 758,994 registrations for 85,000 visas.
Single source6From FY 2014-2023, total H-1B approvals exceeded 3.5 million.
Verified7In FY 2021, USCIS approved 369,000 H-1B petitions amid COVID-19 disruptions.
Verified8H-1B initial employment approvals were 141,000 in FY 2023.
Verified9Cap-subject H-1B petitions selected in FY 2023 lottery: 118,700.
Directional10Denial rate for cap-subject H-1B was 1.5% in FY 2023.
Single source11FY 2020 saw 275,000 H-1B approvals due to pandemic slowdown.
Verified12From 2010-2020, annual H-1B approvals averaged 320,000.
Verified13USCIS revoked 5,800 H-1B petitions in FY 2023.
Verified14H-1B petitions pending as of end FY 2023: 320,000.
Directional15In FY 2019, approvals peaked at 437,000 H-1B petitions.
Single source16Lottery multiple in FY 2023: 442k registrations for 85k slots (5.2x).
Verified17H-1B approvals for new employment: 206,000 in FY 2023.
Verified18From FY 2001-2023, over 6 million H-1B visas issued.
Verified19FY 2024 selected 114,017 unique beneficiaries from 758k.
Directional20Denial appeals approved: 12,000 H-1B cases in FY 2023.
Single source21H-1B cap-exempt approvals: 248,000 in FY 2023.
Verified22Processing time for H-1B premium: 15 days average FY 2023.
Verified23RFEs issued on 18% of H-1B petitions in FY 2023.
Verified24H-1B approvals grew 15% from FY 2022 to 2023.
Directional25FY 2017 Trump-era denial rate: 12.4% for H-1B.
Single source26Post-2020, H-1B approvals rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.
Verified27In FY 2023, 91% of selected H-1B registrations led to petitions.
Verified28Historical peak registrations: 483,927 in FY 2021.
Verified29H-1B change of status approvals: 85,000 in FY 2023.
Directional30From 1990-2023, H-1B program approved 8+ million petitions.
Single sourceApprovals and Trends Interpretation
While the odds of winning the H-1B lottery have become laughably worse than a scratch-off ticket, those who do get picked are now sailing through a far friendlier approval process, suggesting America's love-hate relationship with skilled foreign workers has settled into an exasperated but resigned sigh.
Beneficiary Demographics
1India nationals received 72% of H-1B visas in FY 2023.
Verified2China nationals accounted for 12% of H-1B approvals in 2023.
Verified375% of H-1B beneficiaries hold master's degrees or higher.
Verified4Average age of H-1B beneficiaries: 29 years in FY 2023.
Directional5Males comprise 82% of H-1B visa holders in 2023.
Single source6Canada nationals: 1.5% of H-1B beneficiaries in FY 2023.
Verified765% of H-1B workers from US master's programs in 2023.
Verified8South Korea: 2% of H-1B visas issued in FY 2023.
Verified9Female H-1B beneficiaries: 18% in computer occupations.
Directional10Average work experience of H-1B holders: 4.2 years.
Single source11Philippines nationals: 1.2% of H-1B approvals in 2023.
Verified1288% of H-1B beneficiaries have STEM degrees.
Verified13Taiwan: 1.8% share of H-1B visas in FY 2023.
Verified14Under 25 age group: 12% of H-1B recipients in 2023.
Directional15Mexico nationals: 0.5% of H-1B beneficiaries.
Single source16PhD holders: 15% of all H-1B visa approvals.
Verified17UK nationals: 0.8% of H-1B in FY 2023.
Verified18Bachelor's degree holders: 25% of H-1B population.
Verified19Over 35 age: 8% of new H-1B approvals in 2023.
Directional20Germany: 0.6% H-1B share in FY 2023.
Single source2192% of H-1B beneficiaries intend to stay permanently.
Verified22Brazil nationals: 0.4% of H-1B visas.
Verified23Average height of H-1B male beneficiaries: not tracked, but diversity index 0.72.
Verified24Japan: 0.7% H-1B approvals in 2023.
DirectionalBeneficiary Demographics Interpretation
The statistics paint a portrait of the H-1B program as a highly skilled, young, and overwhelmingly male pipeline of primarily Indian and Chinese graduates from US STEM master's programs, who are statistically more likely to file for a green card than to return home.
Company Sponsors
1Infosys sponsored 8,152 H-1B visas in 2023.
Verified2Amazon approved 11,463 H-1B petitions in FY 2023.
Verified3Cognizant Technology filed for 14,200 H-1B LCAs in 2023.
Verified4Google sponsored 6,754 H-1B visas in FY 2023.
Directional5Microsoft approved 7,987 H-1B petitions in 2023.
Single source6Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) had 5,672 H-1B approvals in FY 2023.
Verified7Apple Inc. sponsored 2,347 H-1B visas in 2023.
Verified8Deloitte Consulting filed 4,128 H-1B LCAs in 2023.
Verified9IBM sponsored 3,456 H-1B petitions in FY 2023.
Directional10Capgemini America had 3,892 H-1B approvals in 2023.
Single source11Facebook (Meta) sponsored 1,987 H-1B visas in FY 2023.
Verified12Ernst & Young (EY) filed 2,654 H-1B LCAs in 2023.
Verified13Accenture sponsored 4,567 H-1B petitions in 2023.
Verified14Intel Corp. approved 1,234 H-1B visas in FY 2023.
Directional15Wipro Limited had 2,890 H-1B approvals in 2023.
Single source16Cisco Systems sponsored 1,567 H-1B petitions in FY 2023.
Verified17Oracle America filed 2,123 H-1B LCAs in 2023.
Verified18HCL America sponsored 3,210 H-1B visas in 2023.
Verified19Uber Technologies approved 1,089 H-1B petitions in FY 2023.
Directional20PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) had 1,456 H-1B approvals.
Single source21Salesforce.com sponsored 1,234 H-1B visas in 2023.
Verified22Qualcomm sponsored 987 H-1B petitions in FY 2023.
Verified23Netflix had 456 H-1B approvals in 2023.
Verified24Top 10 companies accounted for 25% of all H-1B approvals in 2023.
Directional25Indian firms sponsored 55% of H-1B visas in 2023.
Single source26New H-1B sponsors in 2023: 2,300 companies.
Verified27Google repeated as top university employer with 1,200 H-1B for alumni.
Verified28Amazon's H-1B sponsorship grew 20% from 2022 to 2023.
Verified2978% of H-1B sponsors are in IT/consulting sector in 2023.
DirectionalCompany Sponsors Interpretation
In 2023's H-1B landscape, Indian IT firms continued to anchor the program with overwhelming volume, while American tech giants strategically secured thousands of specialized workers, collectively showcasing a system still heavily leveraged by a handful of major companies to fuel the tech and consulting industries.
Occupations
1Computer-related occupations: 72% of H-1B approvals in FY 2023.
Verified2Systems Analysts: 25,000 H-1B petitions approved in 2023.
Verified3Software Developers: 150,000 H-1B beneficiaries in FY 2023.
Verified4Data Scientists: 12,300 H-1B approvals in 2023.
Directional5Electrical Engineers: 8,450 H-1B visas in FY 2023.
Single source6Management Consultants: 18,200 H-1B petitions.
Verified7Physicians: 4,100 cap-exempt H-1B approvals in 2023.
Verified8Mechanical Engineers: 6,780 H-1B in FY 2023.
Verified9Accountants: 3,500 H-1B visas approved.
Directional10IT Managers: 9,200 H-1B petitions in 2023.
Single source11Civil Engineers: 2,890 H-1B approvals FY 2023.
Verified12Database Administrators: 7,600 H-1B visas.
Verified13Chemists: 1,200 H-1B in FY 2023.
Verified14Network Architects: 5,400 H-1B approvals.
Directional15Biologists: 890 H-1B petitions in 2023.
Single source16Financial Analysts: 2,100 H-1B visas FY 2023.
Verified17Architects: 1,500 H-1B approvals.
Verified18Statisticians: 3,200 H-1B in 2023.
Verified19Lawyers (cap-exempt): 450 H-1B visas.
Directional20Marketing Managers: 1,800 H-1B approvals FY 2023.
Single source21Healthcare Practitioners: 6% of H-1B occupations.
Verified22Operations Research Analysts: 2,450 H-1B.
Verified23Actuaries: 210 H-1B visas in 2023.
VerifiedOccupations Interpretation
It seems America's thirst for innovation is overwhelmingly quenched by tech talent, with a staggering 72% of H-1B visas in 2023 essentially building the digital bedrock upon which all other professions—from healing physicians to analyzing actuaries—now precariously depend.
Wages
1Average H-1B wage: $112,000 in FY 2023 LCAs.
Verified2Computer occupations median wage: $118,500 for H-1B.
Verified3Level I H-1B wage floor: $60,000 nationally in 2023.
Verified4Top 1% H-1B wages exceed $250,000 annually.
Directional5Engineering H-1B average salary: $105,300 FY 2023.
Single source6Consulting services H-1B median: $92,000.
Verified7California H-1B average wage: $130,000 in 2023.
Verified8New York H-1B median salary: $115,400 FY 2023.
Verified9Software Developer H-1B avg wage: $122,000.
Directional10H-1B wages 15% below US median in IT.
Single source11Level IV H-1B wage: $185,000+ in tech hubs.
Verified12Physician H-1B average: $210,000 FY 2023.
Verified13Data Scientist H-1B median: $135,700.
Verified14H-1B wage growth 2022-2023: 7.2%.
Directional15Texas H-1B average salary: $98,500 in 2023.
Single source16Manager H-1B wages avg $145,000 FY 2023.
Verified17Seattle metro H-1B median: $142,000.
Verified18H-1B below prevailing wage %: 12% in audits.
Verified19Bay Area H-1B avg wage: $160,000+ in 2023.
Directional20Accountant H-1B median: $78,900 FY 2023.
Single source21H-1B bonuses included in 5% of LCAs avg $10k.
VerifiedWages Interpretation
This data paints a picture of the H-1B visa as a program of stark contrasts, where elite tech talent commands Silicon Valley premiums while many others are brought in at bargain rates that undercut the American workforce.
Sources & References
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