India, June 16 -- The number of H-1B visa cap registrations for 2026 has significantly dropped. New data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) shows that only 3.58 lakh people signed up this time, which is a big 26.9% drop from last year's 4.78 lakh. The fall is even greater compared to 2024, with numbers going down by more than 54%.

Out of all the registrations this year, 120,141 were picked to move ahead. The H-1B visa program is important for Indian IT workers and a major way US tech companies hire talent. Every year, the program gives out 85,000 visas, including 20,000 spots for people with US master's degrees.

Many reasons are being cited for this big drop, including new rules, higher H-1B costs, and changing car...