H 1B Visa Approvals Reach Five Year Low Despite Record Number of Filings

H 1B visa approvals dropped to their lowest level in five years during the 2025 fiscal year, even as the number of applications from U.S. employers continued to rise.

According to a new report submitted to the U.S. Congress by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a total of 456,725 H-1B petitions were filed between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025. However, only 328,185 of those were approved.

A Sharp Decline in Approvals

This represents a major shift in the visa landscape. The 328,185 approvals in FY 2025 mark an 18% decrease from the previous year, when 399,402 petitions were approved out of 427,091 filings.

The decline was most noticeable in the first quarter of the fiscal year (October to December 2024). During those three months, only 47,821 petitions were approved—a massive drop compared to the 87,018 approved during the same period in FY 2024.

Fee Changes for Large and Small Employers

The report also detailed how employer size affected filing trends:

• Large Employers: 410,929 petitions came from companies with more than 26 full-time employees. These firms pay a standard fee of $1,500.
• Small Employers: 45,796 petitions were filed by businesses with 25 or fewer employees, which qualify for a reduced fee of $750.

Despite the high demand from both large and small businesses, the overall approval rate hit a five year low, suggesting stricter vetting or shifting priorities within the immigration system.

New $100,000 Fee for H 1B Petitions

A significant policy change toward the end of the fiscal year likely impacted these trends. On September 19, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation introducing a $100,000 fee for H 1B petitions.

This new measure requires U.S. companies to pay $100,000 to sponsor each H 1B worker. The administration stated that this move is intended to prevent program abuse and ensure that visas are reserved for the most highly skilled and highest-paid international professionals.

What This Means for the Future

The combination of falling approval rates and the massive increase in sponsorship fees marks a turning point for U.S. skilled worker immigration. Companies are now facing higher costs and more scrutiny, which may lead to significant changes in how they hire international talent in the coming years.

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