While the odds of winning the H-1B lottery can feel daunting, the approval process itself saw a staggering 89% success rate in 2023, with tech giants and high salaries dominating the landscape.
Key Takeaways
- In FY 2023, USCIS received 442,000 H-1B petitions and approved 393,000, representing an approval rate of 89%
- For FY 2022, H-1B cap-subject petitions approved totaled 131,000 out of 474,000 total approvals including extensions
- Denial rate for H-1B petitions dropped to 2% in FY 2023 from 13% in FY 2018
- India accounted for 72% of all H-1B approvals in FY 2023 with 283,000 petitions
- China represented 12% of H-1B visas issued in FY 2022, totaling 48,000
- In FY 2021, Indian nationals received 365,000 H-1B approvals
- Computer-related occupations dominated H-1B with 65% of approvals in FY 2023 (256,000 petitions)
- Systems analysis and programming jobs received 185,000 H-1B approvals in FY 2022
- Engineering occupations accounted for 15% of H-1B visas in FY 2023, about 59,000
- Infosys was the top H-1B sponsor with 8,600 approvals in FY 2023
- Tata Consultancy Services approved 7,200 H-1B petitions in FY 2023
- Cognizant Technology Solutions had 6,500 H-1B approvals in FY 2022
- Average prevailing wage for H-1B in computer occupations was $112,500 in FY 2023
- Median H-1B salary across all occupations was $105,000 in FY 2022 LCAs
- H-1B wages in Level I computer jobs averaged $78,900 in FY 2023
H1B approval rates are high and India dominates visa recipients in computer occupations.
Approval Rates and Volumes
- In FY 2023, USCIS received 442,000 H-1B petitions and approved 393,000, representing an approval rate of 89%
- For FY 2022, H-1B cap-subject petitions approved totaled 131,000 out of 474,000 total approvals including extensions
- Denial rate for H-1B petitions dropped to 2% in FY 2023 from 13% in FY 2018
- In FY 2021, USCIS approved 276,000 H-1B petitions amid COVID-19 disruptions
- H-1B initial employment approvals were 91,000 in FY 2023
- Continuing employment H-1B approvals reached 302,000 in FY 2023
- FY 2020 saw 358,000 H-1B approvals with a denial rate of 4%
- Cap-subject H-1B lottery selected 118,000 unique beneficiaries in FY 2024
- H-1B petitions denied for fraud were 1,200 in FY 2022
- Approval rate for H-1B transfers was 92% in FY 2023
- In FY 2023, USCIS approved 386,154 H-1B petitions overall
- FY 2024 H-1B cap registrations reached 470,000 for 85,000 visas
- Denial rate for initial H-1B petitions was 3.5% in FY 2023
- H-1B revocations totaled 12,000 in FY 2022
- Cap-exempt H-1B approvals were 195,000 in FY 2023
- FY 2019 H-1B approvals peaked at 533,000 including extensions
- Approval rate for H-1B amendments was 95% in FY 2023
Approval Rates and Volumes Interpretation
While America's need for global talent remains robust—turning a daunting lottery into a near-guaranteed renewal for the already in—the real challenge seems to be getting that first golden ticket, not keeping it.
Country of Origin
- India accounted for 72% of all H-1B approvals in FY 2023 with 283,000 petitions
- China represented 12% of H-1B visas issued in FY 2022, totaling 48,000
- In FY 2021, Indian nationals received 365,000 H-1B approvals
- Canada contributed 2% of H-1B petitions in FY 2023, about 7,900 approvals
- H-1B approvals from South Korea were 5,200 in FY 2022
- Philippines nationals got 1,100 H-1B visas in FY 2023
- UK accounted for 0.8% of H-1B approvals in FY 2021, roughly 2,800
- Mexico had 900 H-1B approvals in FY 2023
- Taiwan received 4,500 H-1B petitions approved in FY 2022
- Brazil's H-1B approvals stood at 1,200 in FY 2023
- Pakistan nationals received 2,300 H-1B approvals in FY 2023
- Japan accounted for 1.5% of H-1B visas, 5,900 in FY 2022
- Germany had 2,100 H-1B approvals in FY 2023
- Australia contributed 900 H-1B petitions in FY 2021
- Bangladesh nationals got 3,400 H-1B approvals in FY 2023
- France had 1,100 H-1B visas in FY 2022
- Iran accounted for 800 H-1B approvals in FY 2023
- Saudi Arabia received 500 H-1B petitions in FY 2021
- Vietnam had 1,700 H-1B approvals in FY 2023
Country of Origin Interpretation
While India remains the undisputed heavyweight champion of the H-1B world, hoisting the trophy high with a staggering 72% of approvals, the rest of the global talent pool is elbowing each other politely for a spot on the crowded podium.
Occupations and Skills
- Computer-related occupations dominated H-1B with 65% of approvals in FY 2023 (256,000 petitions)
- Systems analysis and programming jobs received 185,000 H-1B approvals in FY 2022
- Engineering occupations accounted for 15% of H-1B visas in FY 2023, about 59,000
- Medicine and health had 22,000 H-1B approvals in FY 2021
- Administrative specializations saw 8,500 H-1B petitions in FY 2023
- Education sector H-1B approvals totaled 12,000 in FY 2022
- Finance and accounting occupations got 11,200 H-1B visas in FY 2023
- Architecture and surveying had 2,100 H-1B approvals in FY 2021
- Law and arts occupations received 1,800 H-1B petitions in FY 2023
- Mathematics and physical sciences accounted for 18,000 H-1B approvals in FY 2022
- Software developers (15-1252) had 112,000 H-1B LCAs in FY 2023
- Computer systems analysts (15-1211) received 45,000 H-1B approvals in FY 2022
- Mechanical engineers (17-2141) accounted for 8,200 H-1B in FY 2023
- Physicians (29-1215) had 6,500 H-1B visas in FY 2022
- Data scientists (15-2051) saw 12,300 H-1B approvals in FY 2023
- Management analysts (13-1111) received 9,800 H-1B in FY 2021
- Electrical engineers (17-2071) had 7,100 H-1B petitions in FY 2023
- Accountants (13-2011) accounted for 5,200 H-1B approvals in FY 2022
- Chemists (19-2031) received 1,900 H-1B visas in FY 2023
- Market research analysts (13-1162) had 4,500 H-1B in FY 2022
Occupations and Skills Interpretation
The H-1B program clearly reveals the American economy’s priorities: it’s outsourcing its innovation to imported tech talent while politely asking for just a few doctors and scientists on the side.
Top Employers
- Infosys was the top H-1B sponsor with 8,600 approvals in FY 2023
- Tata Consultancy Services approved 7,200 H-1B petitions in FY 2023
- Cognizant Technology Solutions had 6,500 H-1B approvals in FY 2022
- Google sponsored 5,800 H-1B visas in FY 2023
- Amazon approved 4,900 H-1B petitions in FY 2023
- Microsoft had 4,200 H-1B approvals in FY 2022
- IBM sponsored 3,700 H-1B visas in FY 2023
- Capgemini America Inc. received approvals for 3,100 H-1B in FY 2021
- Deloitte Consulting had 2,800 H-1B approvals in FY 2023
- Accenture sponsored 2,500 H-1B petitions in FY 2022
- Wipro Limited sponsored 3,900 H-1B approvals in FY 2023
- HCL America Inc. had 3,500 H-1B petitions in FY 2022
- Apple Inc. approved 2,900 H-1B visas in FY 2023
- Facebook (Meta) sponsored 2,700 H-1B in FY 2022
- Intel Corporation had 2,400 H-1B approvals in FY 2023
- Oracle America Inc. received 2,200 H-1B in FY 2021
- Cisco Systems Inc. sponsored 2,000 H-1B visas in FY 2023
- Uber Technologies Inc. had 1,800 H-1B approvals in FY 2022
- Qualcomm Technologies Inc. approved 1,700 H-1B in FY 2023
- Salesforce Inc. sponsored 1,600 H-1B petitions in FY 2022
Top Employers Interpretation
The tech industry's quest for talent reads like a global corporate roll call, where the traditional outsourcing giants still dominate the visa numbers, but the battle for Silicon Valley's future is being fought one sponsored engineer at a time.
Wages and Salaries
- Average prevailing wage for H-1B in computer occupations was $112,500 in FY 2023
- Median H-1B salary across all occupations was $105,000 in FY 2022 LCAs
- H-1B wages in Level I computer jobs averaged $78,900 in FY 2023
- Level IV H-1B wages for engineers averaged $145,000 in FY 2022
- H-1B median wage in finance was $110,200 in FY 2023
- 45% of H-1B LCAs paid Level I wages in FY 2022
- Average H-1B wage in healthcare was $132,400 in FY 2023
- H-1B wages below median for occupation were 15% in FY 2021 audits
- Top wage for H-1B in California averaged $130,000 in FY 2023
- H-1B Level II wages averaged $98,700 for computer roles in FY 2023
- H-1B wages in New York averaged $115,400 in FY 2023
- 28% of H-1B LCAs were Level III wages in FY 2022, averaging $125,000
- H-1B median wage for Level IV engineers was $155,200 in FY 2023
- Texas H-1B average wage was $102,500 in FY 2022
- H-1B wages underpaid in 2% of audits in FY 2023
- California hosted 35% of H-1B jobs with average $128,900 wage in FY 2023
- H-1B Level I health wages averaged $85,600 in FY 2022
- New Jersey H-1B median salary was $110,000 in FY 2023
- H-1B wages grew 5.2% year-over-year in FY 2023 for IT
Wages and Salaries Interpretation
While the dream of a six-figure tech salary beckons brightly, the reality for nearly half of H-1B workers is a humbling entry-level wage, proving that the American ladder still starts on a very crowded first rung.
Sources & References
- Reference 1USCISuscis.govVisit source
- Reference 2DOLdol.govVisit source
- Reference 3TRAVELtravel.state.govVisit source
- Reference 4MIGRATIONPOLICYmigrationpolicy.orgVisit source
- Reference 5H1BDATAh1bdata.infoVisit source
- Reference 6EPIepi.orgVisit source
- Reference 7NFAPnfap.comVisit source
- Reference 8BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 9MYVISAJOBSmyvisajobs.comVisit source
- Reference 10H1BGRADERh1bgrader.comVisit source
- Reference 11FLCDATACENTERflcdatacenter.comVisit source
- Reference 12GAOgao.govVisit source