Hyderabad, a longstanding hub for H-1B visa applicants, is witnessing an unprecedented decline in demand for the coveted US work visa this year. Local consultancies have attributed this drop to recent policy changes, including a sharp fee hike and stricter application restrictions, which have made the process more challenging for prospective applicants.
According to a report by The Times of India, the US government’s decision to increase the H-1B visa registration fee from $10 to $215 has significantly deterred applicants. In addition, the new rule limiting individuals to a single application per passport has further impacted interest, as previous regulations allowed multiple applications through different employers, increasing an applicant’s chances of selection.
Arun Teja Bukkaparapu, a Hyderabad-based consultant, highlighted the shift in sentiment, stating, “I have not even received a single call about H-1B filing until now. Rising costs, coupled with uncertainty over job prospects in the US, have discouraged potential applicants.”
The H-1B visa program, which enables US companies to employ skilled foreign professionals, grants 65,000 visas annually, with an additional 20,000 reserved for individuals holding a master’s degree or higher from a US institution. Historically, Indian nationals have accounted for a significant share of H-1B recipients, though no specific country-based quota exists.
Despite the high demand for skilled professionals in the US, last year’s H-1B lottery system saw approximately 1.5 million applications, with an estimated 600,000–700,000 unique applicants due to multiple submissions. However, the latest regulatory changes aim to curb such practices, which may explain the current decline in applications from Hyderabad.
As the H-1B visa season for 2026 progresses, it remains to be seen whether these changes will have a lasting impact on Indian applicants or if demand will rebound in the coming years.
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