Washington: The number of applications for the US H-1B work visa has fallen by as much as 38.5% this year, according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
US officials said applications dropped from 3.44 lakh last year to 2.12 lakh in the current year. They stressed that the decline should not be read as reduced interest in working in the United States.
Instead, officials attributed the fall to key rules introduced to curb visa-related irregularities. Under the updated approach, higher-paying, qualified roles are given priority.
As a result, applications from companies seeking to hire workers at lower wages are being rejected more often, contributing to the overall decline, officials said.
