Employers must apply for H-1B visas on behalf of foreign workers

H-1B visas let US employers hire skilled foreign professionals in specialty occupations

The H-1B is the main US program for temporary high-skilled workers, covering roles in technology, engineering, medicine, and finance. Issued for up to six years, it often serves as a pathway to permanent residency.

High demand forces H-1B visas into a lottery system each year

Because demand far exceeds the annual cap—65,000 new visas plus 20,000 for US master's graduates—employers must enter a lottery for new H-1B slots. In recent years, several hundred thousand petitions have competed for just 85,000 openings.

The first H-1 visa was created in 1952

Congress established the original H-1 visa in 1952 through the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 to let US employers temporarily hire foreign professionals of "distinguished merit and ability" when qualified American workers were unavailable—a precursor to today's H-1B program.

Studies link H-1B workers to patents, innovation, and productivity growth in the US

Research shows that H-1B visa holders boost innovation: Firms that employ many H-1Bs file more patents. Economists estimate that foreign STEM workers helped explain 30% to 50% of nationwide productivity growth from 1990 to 2010, while immigrant inventors disproportionately generated high-value patents.

The Trump administration said the new H‑1B fee curbs abuse but still attracts top talent

In announcing a fee on new H‑1B petitions, the Trump administration claimed the visa was exploited to replace American workers and suppress wages. Officials argued that a steep fee would deter abuse while still allowing employers to bring in the "best of the best" temporary foreign talent.

Studies show H-1B workers help address shortages in STEM fields

Research finds that unemployment rates in occupations employing large numbers of H-1B workers remained low between 2004 and 2023, even during the pandemic. Other studies suggest H-1Bs complement US workers in STEM fields and expand job opportunities.

Critics call H-1B the "outsourcing visa"

Large IT firms, especially in India, have used H-1Bs to place workers in US offices, train them on client systems, and then shift the work overseas at lower cost. This practice fuels criticism that the visa facilitates offshoring.

The Immigration Act of 1990 created the modern H-1B visa

Signed by President George H.W. Bush, the 1990 Immigration Act split the broad H-1 category into specialized visas, establishing the current H-1B for "specialty occupations" requiring at least a bachelor's degree. The H-1A, for registered nurses, ended in 1997.

Nearly 400,000 H-1B applications were approved in 2024

In 2024, nearly 400,000 H-1B petitions were approved, with about 65% of them renewals for existing workers. Roughly 70% of recipients were born in India, and nearly two-thirds of all H-1B jobs were in computer-related fields.

Trump's H-1B fee hike could reshape US industries and global talent flows

Analysts warn the new H-1B fee could trigger labor shortages in tech, medicine, and universities; push firms to offshore more work; and drive skilled Indian workers and students toward other countries—weakening America's innovation edge.

Study shows H-1B visas depress wages and reduce consumer tech costs

A paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that without H-1B workers, American computer scientists would earn 2.6% to 5.1% more and domestic employment could rise by 11%, but consumers would pay more for advanced technology, and output would decrease.

Multiple legal pathways exist for immigrating to the United States

This comprehensive guide outlines various routes to US immigration, including family-sponsored and employment-based visas, as well as humanitarian protections. Navigate the complex American immigration system and understand the options available to prospective immigrants seeking legal entry.

H-1B approval rates have swung sharply between administrations

Denial rates for new H-1B petitions rose from 6% in 2015 to 24% under the Trump administration as officials tightened standards. Under Biden, approvals rebounded, with denials falling to just 2% by 2022—the lowest since 2009.

Only about 70 employers have paid Trump's $100K H-1B fee as of February 2026

Only about 70 employers have paid the $100K fee for certain H-1B hires since it was imposed by presidential proclamation in September 2025, a DOJ attorney said in court, as judges weigh whether the charge requires explicit congressional authorization.

President Trump implemented a $100K fee on new H-1B visa applications

In September 2025, President Trump announced a $100K application fee for new H-1B petitions, framing it as a way to limit misuse of the program. His administration later clarified it was a one-time fee for new applicants, not an annual charge. (Some users may experience a paywall.)

Explore the "winners and losers" of the Trump administration's H-1B visa fee

In this episode, experts discuss the rationale behind the new $100K fee, citing concerns about abuse of the H-1B program. Some economists warn that it could spur offshoring, reduce innovation, and create ripple effects on wages and talent supply.

Congress temporarily raised the H-1B cap during the dot-com boom

To meet soaring demand for tech talent in the late 1990s, Congress lifted the H-1B cap from 65,000 to 195,000 visas between 2001 and 2003. The increase—tied to the dot-com bubble—lapsed once demand slowed, but an additional 20,000 slots for advanced degree holders were added.

Before 1965, US immigration law relied on nationality-based bans and quotas.

The new H-1B fee will have a major negative effect on India

Because those born in India receive about 70% of H-1B visas, the $100K fee could sharply limit Indian IT firms' access to US markets and redirect skilled Indian workers to other countries.

Some argue that restricting illegal immigration would raise wages for lower-income American workers

The Heritage Foundation argues that illegal immigrants' willingness to work for below-market wages suppresses wages for low-skilled American workers—and that reducing illegal immigration would increase wages and job opportunities, particularly for workers without a college degree.

US immigrants pay billions of dollars in taxes each year

While immigrants who are authorized workers pay taxes just like anyone else, even unauthorized workers file tax returns. These unauthorized workers use individual taxpayer identification numbers.

Certain government assistance programs are available to green-card holders

Federal programs such as Medicaid and SNAP are often available to US green-card holders, but that's not typically the case for people with other immigration statuses in the US, like DACA recipients, asylum applicants, and unauthorized immigrants.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency was created in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Advocates for restricting birthright citizenship argue that some parents aren't 'fully subject to US jurisdiction'

Proponents of limiting birthright citizenship claim that undocumented immigrants and temporary visa holders do not meet the 14th Amendment's "subject to the jurisdiction" requirement, arguing their allegiance remains with another country.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement handles immigration enforcement within the interior of the US

ICE operates inside the United States, enforcing immigration laws through investigations, arrests, detention, and deportation of individuals residing in the country illegally. This page provides an overview of the agency's mission, structure, and internal enforcement operations.

The monthly US employment report is eagerly anticipated by Wall Street and has significant impacts on markets.

The Department of Homeland Security manages America's border and immigration enforcement

DHS serves as the umbrella agency managing immigration enforcement, border security, and related public safety responsibilities. Learn more about the department's budget, strategic initiatives, organizational history, and coordination of multiple agencies.

Flexible spending accounts are operated by employers

Unlike health savings accounts, which can be opened at banks and credit unions, FSAs are employer-owned and operated—meaning you can only access an FSA through an employer benefit, and the account doesn't follow you if you move jobs. To use an FSA to pay for a medical service or product, purchases typically have to be uploaded, approved, and then employees can be reimbursed.

As of 2026, almost 90% of companies use AI in their hiring processes to cut hiring time by up to 50%, including using AI-based tools to filter 75% of resumes.

Visa overstays account for nearly 40% of illegal US entries

In fiscal year 2023, approximately 510,000 people overstayed their visas, while 860,000 crossed the border illegally, meaning overstays accounted for 37% of the total number of new unauthorized arrivals. This represents a shift from 2007 to 2018, when overstays outnumbered border crossings, to 2019, when illegal crossings surged again.

Track the changes in US immigration law throughout history

This interactive timeline tracks the development of US immigration law, overlaid with time-series data on percentages of the foreign-born population. Explore how each major policy development correlated with immigration levels, revealing the relationship between legislation and demographic change.

A timeline of US immigration laws

The United States began regulating immigration soon after it won independence from Great Britain, and the laws since enacted have reflected the politics and migrant flows of the times. Here's a timeline of key immigration laws from 1790 to 2014, according to the Pew Research Center.

Immigration courts are part of the DOJ, not the judicial branch

Unlike federal courts, immigration courts operate under the DOJ's Executive Office for Immigration Review—meaning immigration judges are DOJ employees, not independent judicial officers, and their decisions can be reviewed and overturned by the attorney general.

Immigrants generated about $1.7T in economic activity in 2023 and paid roughly $652B in taxes.

Over 1.9 million Americans—more than a quarter of those unemployed—have been classified as 'long-term' unemployed in a given month in 2026, meaning they've been out of work for at least 27 weeks.

With the help of one photographer who took photos of children at work, child labor in the US was eventually restricted by law in the mid-1900s.

See how the executive branch of the US government works

The executive branch enforces federal laws and is led by the president, who serves as head of state, commander in chief, and chief diplomat. Supported by the vice president, Cabinet, and around 4 million federal employees, it carries out laws through 15 departments and dozens of agencies.

The US federal government employs roughly 3 million people

Tracking began in 1939, when the federal workforce consisted of about 1 million people. The total peaked in 1990 at 3.4 million, and hit a recent low in 2014 at 2.7 million.

Some employers are using new technology to surveil remote workers

'Bossware' tools help employers make sure their remote workers aren't slacking off on the job, using surveillance technology to monitor employee computer activity and more.

The federal government offers billions in student aid each year in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and more

The very first—and necessary—step is to fill out a federal application to get your information into the system. Known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, this key form must be completed by Oct. 1 for the following academic year.

An economic evaluation of US tariffs

Most economists agree that the implementation of large-scale tariffs on foreign goods would hurt both the American and global economies. This video from The Wall Street Journal explains the rationale for tariffs as a tool for domestic job creation, but explains why they may hurt the overall economy.

Tariffs are typically paid by the importing company or organization to the US Treasury.

US Customs and Border Protection traditionally operates at ports of entry and along US borders

CBP manages security at official border crossings and patrols areas between ports of entry to prevent unauthorized crossings. View details of the agency's mission, organizational structure, and approach to managing the United States' physical borders.

The National Labor Relations Act gave workers the right to unionize in the US.

Hear an interview with Harvard Law School employee and labor law expert Sharon Block about how the parallel motivations of workers, employers, and government officials led to the creation of the National Labor Relations Act.

Why workers in Japan hire resignation experts

Many workers in Japan hire resignation experts to help them quit their jobs. That's partly because quitting is taboo in Japan. It's seen as "the ultimate form of disrespect" in that country, where job hopping is uncommon. Bosses sometimes attempt to force workers to stay when they resign, creating quite the market for resignation assistance firms. Read more in this article.

Employers get to keep any FSA funds not used by the annual deadline

Flexible spending arrangements have use it or lose it deadlines defined in the plan. Employers that offer FSAs get to keep any unused funds, but that money has to go towards administering the FSA program. Remaining FSA funds can also be pooled and divided evenly amongst a company's FSA participants, but very few companies actually do this.

The Chinese Exclusion Act was America's first major immigration restriction

The act, signed in 1882, barred Chinese laborers from entering the United States, marking the first significant restriction on free immigration. This overview examines 19th-century Chinese immigration, rising anti-Chinese sentiment, and the diplomatic implications of exclusionary legislation.

How long should you stay at your job?

Is it better to stay at a job longer to make sure you look loyal on your resume, or to job-hop for the resulting pay bumps? After all, Federal Reserve data shows that job switchers increase their salary more quickly on average than those who stay put. This video from CNBC aims to help you figure out the answer to the age-old question of "should I stay or should I go?" Watch it here.

Birthright citizenship is the principle that a person acquires citizenship by being born within a country's territory, regardless of parental nationality or immigration status.

Birthright citizenship guarantees US citizenship to anyone born on US soil

Rooted in the 14th Amendment, birthright citizenship prevents the creation of a permanent noncitizen class by granting citizenship at birth, but it has become a focal point of modern political efforts to restrict immigration.