Understanding the H-1B Visa: A Gateway for Skilled Workers

New Delhi, September 21, 2025, 02:17 PM IST – The H-1B visa has long been a critical tool for bringing skilled foreign professionals to the United States, particularly in technology, engineering, and healthcare sectors. As recent policy changes, including a new $100,000 annual fee, spark global attention, understanding the basics of this visa program becomes essential for workers, employers, and policymakers alike.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant work permit designed for individuals with specialized knowledge or skills that U.S. employers need but cannot easily fill with local talent. Introduced under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1990, it allows companies to hire foreign workers in roles requiring at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. Common beneficiaries include software developers, data scientists, doctors, and researchers, with a significant portion of approvals going to professionals from India and China.

Each fiscal year, the U.S. caps the H-1B visa allocation at 85,000—65,000 for general applicants and an additional 20,000 for those with advanced U.S. degrees. However, demand often exceeds supply, leading to a lottery system when applications surpass the limit. The visa is typically granted for an initial three-year period, extendable to six years, and can serve as a stepping stone toward permanent residency, often dubbed the “green card.”

Employers play a central role, filing petitions with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and demonstrating that the role requires specialized skills and that they’ve offered prevailing wages. This process, while rigorous, has made the H-1B a lifeline for industries facing talent shortages. In recent years, Indian IT firms like TCS and Infosys have leveraged the program to deploy thousands of engineers to the U.S., contributing to a robust bilateral tech partnership.

Yet, the program is not without controversy. Critics argue it depresses wages for American workers, while supporters highlight its role in driving innovation. The recent imposition of a $100,000 annual fee, effective today, aims to prioritize local employment but has raised concerns about its impact on global talent flows. As debates continue, the H-1B visa remains a pivotal, if polarizing, element of the U.S. immigration framework, shaping careers and economies worldwide.