Which Country Supplies the Most H-1B Visa Workers to the U.S.?

Employees originating from India account for the highest proportion of H-1B visas granted in the United States, constituting 73% of approvals during the fiscal year 2023, as stated in a recent Pew Research Center study.

Indian-born professionals have continually topped the H-1B program, receiving most of the approvals each year since 2010. Chinese nationals came in second, accounting for 12% of the approvals in 2023.

None of the other countries made up more than 2% of the H-1B workers approved in 2023.

Images courtesy of Pew Research Center

This trend is primarily fueled by the high demand in the U.S. for qualified IT professionals, as evidenced by almost two-thirds of all granted H-1B visas in 2023 being issued to candidates in computer-related disciplines.

Even though trained Indian personnel play a crucial role in the U.S. economy, the country has raised worries about unlawful migration from India.

The two nations have pinpointed approximately 18,000 undocumented Indian immigrants in the United States who may face deportation. Bloomberg reported in January.

The statement also indicated that the Indian government was ready to collaborate with the Trump administration to pinpoint and repatriate all of its citizens living unlawfully in the United States.

Indian authorities indicate that the migration of skilled workers to the United States plays a crucial role in strengthening India-U.S. relations and offers advantages to both nations.

"Our nations share a robust and expanding collaboration in economics and technology, and within this framework, the movement of skilled professionals plays a crucial role," stated India's foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, at a press briefing in January, according to reports. Reuters .

The economic relationship between India and the U.S. benefits greatly from the technical know-how supplied by competent experts, as each side utilizes its advantages and competitive worth, he further noted.

The H-1B visa program Introduced in 1990, this program enables U.S. companies to employ foreign experts for positions necessitating sophisticated skills. Candidates are required to possess a minimum of a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in the pertinent field.

The initial approval for H-1B visas lasts for three years, with the possibility of extending it up to six years. Nevertheless, should an employer support the employee’s petition for permanent residence, this visa term can be prolonged past the six-year cap.

In 2023, around 400,000 H-1B applications were granted to high-skilled foreign workers. Among them, 65% represented extensions for those who had previously been approved, with the remaining being initial approvals for individuals starting their first job in the U.S.