According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), properly submitted H-1B registrations dropped by 38.5%, from 343,981 in the previous financial year to 211,600 this year.
The Trump administration described the outcome as a “great result,” claiming the revised policies are helping prioritise highly qualified foreign professionals while reducing misuse of the programme.
“This data is a clear sign that the days of abusing the program with mass, low-wage registrations are over, and that the program is better serving its intended purpose of attracting highly skilled foreign workers and protecting the wages, working conditions, and job opportunities of American workers,” as per the USCIS.
This year’s H-1B season is wrapping up, and we’re seeing great results from @POTUS’ new policies that prioritize America First!
Stay tuned for more updates, but here’s what we’re seeing so far:
✅More top talent: We’re approving more applicants with advanced degrees and higher…
— USCIS (@USCIS) May 21, 2026
USCIS also noted a significant rise in the number of selected applicants holding advanced academic qualifications. Around 71.5% of the chosen candidates possessed a US master’s degree or higher, compared to 57% last year.
At the same time, only 17.7% of selected registrations belonged to the lowest wage category, highlighting the administration’s emphasis on attracting higher-paid and highly skilled workers.
“These skilled workers are making a real impact on our economy and we are closing the door on the low-wage and low-skilled foreign labour pipeline approved under Biden administration policies,” the agency said.
The development comes amid a broader immigration crackdown under the Trump administration. Measures have included stricter visa policies, high-profile immigration raids, and major reforms to the H-1B system, which had long faced criticism from sections of the American far-right. One of the most significant changes introduced by the administration was a steep increase in H-1B application fees, with new applications reportedly costing up to $100,000.
Another major reform involved changes to the H-1B selection process. Previously, visas were allotted through a random lottery system, which USCIS said had been exploited by employers bringing in lower-skilled workers at comparatively low wages. To address these concerns, the agency introduced a weighted selection system, “a process that gives greater weight to those with higher skills.”
Explaining the reforms, USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser said the updated system aligns more closely with Congress’s original intent for the H-1B programme and strengthens America’s competitiveness.
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