Federal data reveals a sharp divide in how the tech companies are approaching the H-1B visa program. According to a report by Business Insider, while Google, Meta and Amazon have cut back on the filings for new hires, AI giants like Anthropic, OpenAI and chipmaker Nvidia are expanding their use of the program. Out of all the major tech companies, Anthropic recorded the biggest year-over-year percentage increase, with certified applications rising to 59 in Q2 2026 from just 10 a year ago. OpenAI on the other hand filed 63 applications, up from 20, while the filings of Nvidia climbed to 765 from 641. Recruiters say that these companies are willing to absorb higher costs and hurdles to secure elite talent. “The $100,000 H-1B visa fee represents a rounding error against the cost of not landing the right researcher,” Raghu Shivakumar of Nexocean told BI.
Tech giants pull back
By contrast, Google saw a 64% decline in certified applications, reflecting broader headcount reductions through rolling job cuts. Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon also reported fewer filings compared with last year. Analysts note that large firms are restructuring around smaller, specialized teams — or “pods” — and increasingly comfortable setting up operations overseas to avoid visa costs.
Policy changes add pressure on companies
The decline comes amid significant changes to the visa program. New rules give higher-paid applicants better odds in the lottery, disadvantaging younger workers. A temporary $100,000 fee for overseas applicants has further complicated the process. Overall, US Citizenship and Immigration Services reported 211,600 properly submitted applications for the 2027 allocation, down from 343,981 the year before.Immigration lawyer Justin Parsons said some employers sat out this year’s lottery to see how the new rules would play out. Certified applications, reviewed by the Labor Department, ensure immigrant workers are paid fairly and do not displace existing employees, but they are not final visa approvals.
Talent war in AI
Despite the hurdles, the biggest AI firms are doubling down. Recruiters say companies like Anthropic and OpenAI have a “do whatever it takes” mindset when it comes to hiring specialized researchers and engineers. With the H-1B lottery tilting toward experienced, higher-paid workers, the push for elite talent underscores how central foreign-born experts have become to the AI talent strategy.
