Amid gloom, H-1B visas find new use as US tech giants hire AI talent
India Today
As US tech giants rush to expand their operations in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, they are becoming increasingly dependent on hiring foreign workers via the H-1B visa route, according to a Forbes report. However, measures by the Trump administration to limit the H-1B programme might erode US's competitive edge.
US technology companies' push into artificial intelligence is driving strong demand for H-1B visa holders in AI-related roles, according to a report by Forbes. This comes amid the Trump administration's crackdown on foreign hiring by tech companies, especially through the H-1B programme. The clampdown, however, works against the American government's plans to provide the US a leading edge in AI development.
Immigration data analysed by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) show that more than 80% of labour condition applications (LCA's) for new H-1B roles at Amazon, Meta, Google, Microsoft and Apple in FY2025 were tied to AI-related occupations. Citing this data, the Forbes report from Sunday (US time) stated that foreign-born professionals were now being deeply embedded in US tech firms' AI expansion strategies.
H-1B visas remain one of the few pathways for highly skilled foreign professionals to work long-term in the US.
The annual cap for the H-1B programme stands at 65,000 visas, with an additional 20,000 for graduates with advanced US degrees through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) route. International students make up roughly 70% of full-time graduate enrolment in AI-related fields, making them a major talent pool for technology companies recruiting specialised engineers and researchers.
The report on AI talent hiring using H-1B visas comes amid gloom over the future of the programme used to recruit temporary workers, especially in the tech sector. The crackdown on H-1B visas has seen techies stranded in India away from their jobs and families in the US as visa renewal interviews get postponed into 2027.
According to The Forbes report, in FY2025, with sizeable investments in artificial intelligence at stake, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft and Google had the most approved new H-1B petitions, while Apple ranked sixth, according to an NFAP analysis. The data confirm companies hired talent to complement AI spending and broader capital expenditure plans.
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