India, May 20 -- The number of H-1b visa applications for FY2026 has dropped sharply to 358,737 - a 25% decline from the previous year, reaching its lowest point since FY2022.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) shows only 120,141 candidates have been shortlisted, a 27% drop from FY2025. Of these, 85,000 skilled worker visas will be issued.

Indian professionals, who have historically made up over 70% of H-1B recipients, are feeling the squeeze more than most.

The decline is due to a mix of factors: rising visa costs, a sluggish US economy, layoffs across major tech firms, and tighter immigration regulations that began during Donald Trump 2.0. The application fee alone jumped from $10 to $215, making companies mor...