By TOI Tech Desk
Publication Date: 2026-04-03 17:02:00
New data from the US Department of Labour shows that Amazon, Meta, Google, Apple and Microsoft have sharply criticised their H-1B visa petitions, reflecting both tighter immigration rules and widespread layoffs across the tech industry. According to a report by Business Insider, the filings covering the first quarter of fiscal 2026 (October- December 2025), reveal a steep decline as compared to the same period a year earlier. This fresh decline underscores how Big Tech’s hiring slowdown is reshaping demand for skilled foreign workers.
Data of declining H-1B petitions from Apple, Meta, Amazonand Google
The numbers highlight the scale of the drop:
- Amazon saw certified applications fall from 4,647 in Q1 2025 to 3,057 in Q1 2026.
- Meta and Google both recorded declines of nearly 50% year-over-year.
- Apple and Microsoft also reported fewer filings, though less dramatic than Meta and Google.
- Other companies including IBM, Salesforce, and Tesla also reduced filings compared with last year.
