The United States is grappling with a growing shortage of skilled workers, particularly in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) sectors.
Projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggest the country will need nearly 1 million additional STEM workers between 2023 and 2033, with job growth in the tech industry expected to surpass the overall labor market expansion.
To address this challenge, the H-1B visa program, established in 1990, has become a vital tool for U.S. companies seeking to fill specialised roles with foreign talent.
The program allows businesses to temporarily hire foreign professionals in fields such as technology, engineering, and science.
The U.S. Congress has capped the annual issuance of H-1B visas at 65,000, with an additional 20,000 reserved for applicants who hold advanced degrees from U.S. institutions.
Despite these limits, demand for the program remains robust. For fiscal year 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received a staggering 470,000 H-1B applications, highlighting the ongoing need for skilled foreign workers.
Gaurav Saxena, an H-1B visa holder based in Reston, Virginia, described the challenges faced by foreign workers in the program.
“I’m not sure if people in the U.S. truly understand the level of headache that people who are on H-1 have to go through,” Saxena told CNBC.
Read Also: Kanye West trashes Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’
He emphasised the difficulties of navigating the visa renewal process, which requires regular renewals, legal fees, and legal representation every three years.
Tech giants like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft are among the largest employers using the H-1B program to meet their staffing needs. However, concerns persist about some companies potentially exploiting the program to secure lower-cost labor, despite the widespread demand for skilled workers.
Interestingly, even in the wake of significant layoffs in the tech industry, the number of H-1B petitions from employers has not decreased, signaling a continued reliance on foreign expertise to meet growing labor demands in the tech sector.
 sectors.){kind=link}