NEW YORK/WASHINGTON: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has emerged as the second-highest recipient of approved H-1B visas in 2025, following closely behind Amazon, according to the latest data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Amazon topped the list with 10,044 workers holding H-1B visas as of June 2025. TCS followed with 5,505 approvals, securing its position as the top Indian IT company in the rankings. Other leading beneficiaries include Microsoft (5,189), Meta (5,123), Apple (4,202), Google (4,181), Deloitte (2,353), Infosys (2,004), Wipro (1,523), and Tech Mahindra Americas (951).
The new USCIS report comes amid a sweeping policy change by the Trump administration. In a controversial move, President Trump signed a proclamation introducing a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas, effective September 21, 2025. The measure, set to last 12 months unless extended, is aimed at curbing what the administration terms “systemic abuse” of the visa program by IT outsourcing companies.
Officials argue that over the past two decades, foreign STEM workers in the US nearly doubled from 1.2 million in 2000 to 2.5 million in 2019, while overall STEM employment grew only 44.5%. They claim IT firms have “prominently manipulated” the H-1B system, resulting in significant displacement of American workers.
The proclamation cites multiple examples of US companies approving thousands of H-1B workers even as they laid off American employees. Critics say the new $100,000 fee will severely impact Indian IT giants like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro, who rely heavily on the H-1B program for their US operations.
With Indian IT firms ranking among the top H-1B visa holders, industry experts warn that the policy shift could drive up operational costs, reduce hiring flexibility, and disrupt ongoing projects dependent on skilled foreign workers.
