America’s biggest tech corporations are increasingly relying on the H-1B visa program to fill skilled roles, even as major Indian IT service providers scale down their usage. A new study by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) shows that Amazon, Meta, Microsoft and Google together secured over 8,600 new H-1B approvals for FY 2025 — the first time these four U.S. tech giants have taken the top four spots.
Meanwhile, Indian IT firms such as TCS and Cognizant are filing far fewer applications, marking a significant shift in the profile of top H-1B-dependent employers.
Amazon Leads with Record H-1B Numbers
Amazon maintained its position as the largest sponsor of new H-1B workers, earning 4,644 initial-employment approvals in FY 2025, up from 3,871 in the previous year. It also topped continuing-employment numbers with 14,532 approvals, demonstrating its sustained hiring of highly skilled global talent.
Meta ranked second with 1,555 approvals — almost double its 2024 count. Microsoft followed with 1,394, and Google secured 1,050 approvals. Apple stood in sixth place with 823 approvals.
NFAP’s analysis links the surge in visa sponsorship to soaring investments in AI infrastructure. Collectively, Amazon, Google’s parent Alphabet, Meta and Microsoft expect capital expenditures to exceed $380 billion this year.
Indian IT Companies Reduce H-1B Reliance
Traditional Indian IT service providers are deliberately cutting back on U.S. visa filings. TCS received 846 approvals for FY 2025, a 42% drop compared to 2024. Cognizant fell sharply from 2,873 to 743 approvals. LTIMindtree, HCL America and Capgemini also posted declines of around 50%.
NFAP noted that the top seven Indian IT service companies collectively saw 4,573 approvals — a 70% decline compared to 2015 and 37% lower than last year.
Industry leaders attribute the reduction to:
- Increased hiring within the U.S.
- Greater use of offshore delivery centres
- Adoption of automation and digital tools
TCS CEO K. Krithivasan recently confirmed that the company does not plan to hire new H-1B workers in the upcoming year, emphasizing a pivot to local recruitment.
Who Relies on H-1B Talent Today
Beyond Big Tech, several consulting, finance, and semiconductor firms continue to depend heavily on H-1B professionals. Companies like Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Deloitte, EY and ByteDance remain among the top 20 sponsors.
Chipmakers Intel (635 approvals) and Nvidia (563 approvals) also feature prominently, driven by the global competition for semiconductor expertise.
The top five Big Tech companies — Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Google — also dominate continuing-employment petitions, collectively representing nearly 20% of all renewals nationwide.
Indian Outsourcing Firms Lose Share
NFAP’s data reflects a long-term structural shift. In 2015, Indian outsourcing companies submitted the majority of new H-1B applications. Now, their combined share has dropped to below 5%.
Analysts highlight several reasons:
- Evolving global delivery models
- Ability to perform advanced tech work from India, Canada or Eastern Europe
- Higher compliance and legal costs in the U.S.
- Increased scrutiny during and after the Trump administration
Top H-1B Sponsors in FY 2025
| Rank | Company / Employer | Approved H-1B Petitions (FY 2025) | Denial Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazon | 4,644 | 1% |
| 2 | Meta Platforms | 1,555 | 1% |
| 3 | Microsoft | 1,394 | 0.4% |
| 4 | 1,050 | 1% | |
| 5 | Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) | 846 | 2% |
| 6 | Apple | 823 | 0.4% |
| 7 | Goldman Sachs | 746 | 1% |
| 8 | Cognizant | 743 | 4% |
| 9 | Ernst & Young | 718 | 1% |
| 10 | Intel | 635 | 3% |
| 11 | Nvidia | 563 | 1% |
| 12 | JPMorgan Chase | 553 | 0.4% |
| 13 | IBM | 501 | 1% |
| 14 | Oracle | 482 | 1% |
| 15 | Walmart | 478 | 1% |
| 16 | ByteDance | 449 | 1% |
| 17 | Deloitte | 432 | 1% |
| 18 | TikTok | 412 | 4% |
| 19 | Capgemini | 401 | 4% |
| 20 | LTIMindtree | 401 | 5% |
| 21 | HCL America | 379 | 6% |
| 22 | Citibank | 371 | 0.3% |
| 23 | Tesla | 319 | 2% |
| 24 | Avant Healthcare | 308 | 1% |
| 25 | McKinsey & Co. | 303 | 2% |
