The pipeline for H-1B jobs at major U.S. tech companies is narrowing, and that shift is making the market more competitive for foreign professionals seeking a way into American employment. Google and Amazon have both slowed their H-1B sponsorship approvals, a move that matters especially for Indian workers who have long relied heavily on this route.
The change is not only about fewer approvals. It also means more applicants are chasing a smaller number of openings at companies that once sponsored talent more aggressively, which raises the pressure on new candidates and current visa holders alike.
Google and Amazon both slow down
Federal filing data shows that Google recorded about 2,200 H-1B approvals in the second quarter of this year. That was a steep drop from roughly 5,100 approvals in the same period a year earlier.
Amazon followed a similar pattern. Its H-1B approvals fell from about 6,100 to 4,300 over the same comparison period.
Taken together, the two companies approved about 2,900 fewer H-1B positions than they did in the same period last year. The figures suggest a broader cooling in foreign hiring across part of the U.S. technology sector.
Why the pressure is felt most by Indian professionals
The tightening is particularly significant for workers from India, who account for more than 70 percent of approved H-1B visas. That concentration means any slowdown at large sponsors can quickly affect a major share of the talent pool seeking U.S. tech jobs.
For many applicants, the issue is no longer only about competition for a role. It is also about whether a company is willing to take on the sponsorship process at all, especially when large employers become more selective.
Policy pressure adds another layer of uncertainty
The corporate slowdown is unfolding against a tougher immigration backdrop. Last year, the Trump administration introduced a $100,000 H-1B filing fee, saying the move was intended to discourage companies from favoring foreign workers over U.S.-born labor.
According to Homeland Security Secretary Markeayne Mullin, there were 286,000 H-1B applicants year to date. He said more than 200,000 of them chose to pay the $100,000 fee to speed up processing, which can take around 15 days under that route.
Applicants who do not use that option face much longer waiting times. That gap adds more uncertainty for foreign workers trying to enter or remain in the U.S. labor market.
Nvidia moves in the opposite direction
While Google and Amazon are easing back, Nvidia is taking a different approach. The AI chipmaker secured certification for around 1,200 H-1B positions across the first two quarters of fiscal 2026, up from about 1,000 in the same period a year earlier.
The company’s hiring covers hardware engineering, software development, and customer-facing roles tied to AI system deployment. Strong global demand for AI infrastructure appears to be supporting that expansion.
Nvidia’s rising share price has also helped make its compensation package more attractive, with equity incentives becoming a major draw for skilled workers. Federal documents only list base salary, not stock-based pay or bonuses, but they still show the company’s push to attract global talent.
Immigration concerns continue to shape the landscape
The broader anxiety around visa policy has not disappeared either. Earlier this year, proposed changes to green card processing rules briefly raised fears that H-1B holders might have to leave the U.S. and complete permanent residency procedures from abroad.
That concern eased after U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services clarified the situation. The agency said workers whose jobs benefit the economy or serve the national interest may still be allowed to remain in the U.S. while moving through the permanent residency process.
For Indian professionals, that clarification mattered because they make up the majority of approved H-1B recipients. Still, the latest approval numbers from Google and Amazon indicate that the path into top U.S. tech companies is becoming more selective, even as Nvidia continues to open the door to international talent.
Source: www.indiatoday.in