In a notable shift, the number of applications for highly skilled worker visas in the United States has dropped significantly, reflecting efforts to combat fraudulent and abusive practices. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), applications for the H-1B visa lottery fell by nearly 40% this year. This decline is attributed to new regulations aimed at preventing individuals from unfairly increasing their odds of selection by submitting multiple applications.
Major technology companies, which heavily rely on H-1B visas to hire highly educated workers, had previously raised concerns about the massive surge in applications. This increase had resulted in reduced chances for their employees and prospective hires to secure a visa through the random lottery system. Responding to these concerns, USCIS implemented measures to ensure that each applicant would have only one entry in the lottery, regardless of the number of job offers they received.
The results of these changes are evident in the numbers. This year, USCIS received 470,342 entries for the H-1B visa lottery, a significant decrease from the 758,994 entries recorded last year. Despite this drop in total entries, the actual number of workers applying remained relatively stable, with approximately 442,000 this year compared to 446,000 last year. This stability indicates a reduction in multiple applications by individual workers, addressing the core issue of system manipulation.
These changes represent a significant step forward in maintaining the integrity of the H-1B visa process. By ensuring a fairer system, USCIS aims to provide genuine applicants with a more equitable chance of selection, thereby better serving the needs of the U.S. labor market and its employers. The reduction in fraudulent applications not only helps legitimate candidates but also upholds the credibility and efficiency of the visa allocation process.
source: internet
