India is by far the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas. India accounted for 71% of approved beneficiaries, while China was a distant second at 11.7%, according to government data. The figure is often described as “last year” in 2025 coverage, but it comes from fiscal year 2024. That year, 283,397 Indian nationals received H-1B approvals, about 71% of the total, versus 46,680 for China. No other country exceeded 1.3%.
This concentration matters in 2026 because of a major policy shift. All new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025, including those for the FY2026 lottery, require a $100,000 fee. The White House says it is a one-time charge per petition and does not apply to existing H-1B holders re-entering the country. Because Indian nationals make up most of the pool, they are the group most exposed to the change.
Key Details
- Program size: The H-1B program offers 65,000 visas annually, plus another 20,000 for workers with advanced degrees.
- Duration: Visas are approved for three to six years.
- Top users: Big tech relies heavily on the program. Amazon alone sponsored over 10,000 visas in fiscal 2025.
- Who is affected by the fee: It is a one-time fee applied only to new applicants, not to existing visa holders or those seeking renewals.
Pros and Cons for 2026
Pros
- Wage protection argument: The administration says the fee is meant to curb “systemic abuse” and employers using H-1B visas to suppress wages. Supporters see it as favoring US workers.
- Higher-quality filings: Companies will likely sponsor only high-value, hard-to-fill roles, which could favor top-paid specialists.
- Offshoring and India’s growth: Firms may move more work to Indian delivery centers and global capability centers, which could create jobs in India.
- Diversification: The pressure may push countries like Canada, the UK, and Germany to compete harder for skilled talent, widening options for Indian professionals.
Cons
- Cost to employers: Jefferies analysts estimated the fee could cut company margins by 100-200 basis points and profits by 4%-13%.
- Hardest hit group: Indian professionals face the greatest impact, and India’s IT industry body Nasscom warned the fee could disrupt onshore tech projects.
- Hurts startups and smaller firms: A $100,000 charge is far easier for Big Tech to absorb than for smaller employers.
- Student pipeline: The fee could also reduce the number of students aiming to study in the United States.
- Competitiveness risk: Some analysts suggested the fee may push high-value work overseas, hampering America’s position in the AI race with China.
- Legal uncertainty: The fee has been challenged, and one critic said it was unlikely to survive in court. Rules may keep shifting, so check current status before making plans.
Bottom Line
The 71% share shows how dependent the US tech workforce is on Indian talent, and the 2026 fee turns that dependence into a pressure point. The outcome depends on court rulings, employer responses, and whether other countries capture the talent that is redirected.
