While many major technology companies scaled back their H-1B visa applications, leading artificial intelligence firms moved in the opposite direction. A recent analysis of federal labor data revealed that Anthropic, OpenAI, and Nvidia notably increased their H-1B filings during the second quarter of fiscal 2026, even as giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft reduced theirs.
AI Companies Defy Broader H-1B Downturn
The contrast in H-1B application trends is stark. Anthropic experienced a significant year-over-year percentage jump, with certified applications rising from 10 in Q2 2025 to 59 in Q2 2026—a 490% increase. OpenAI's filings climbed from 20 to 63, marking a 215% rise. Nvidia, already a major sponsor, increased its applications by 19%, from 641 to 765.
Conversely, Meta saw a modest 3% decline, Microsoft's applications dropped by 20%, Amazon by 30%, and Google recorded a substantial 64% decrease, aligning with ongoing layoffs targeting specific teams.
Why AI Firms Prioritize Global Talent
Recruiters suggest that AI companies like Anthropic and OpenAI adopt a "do whatever it takes" mindset for hiring. The global talent pool for elite AI researchers, engineers, and infrastructure specialists is exceptionally small and highly competitive. This scarcity makes the H-1B visa process an indispensable tool for securing specialized skills, despite its inherent complexities.
Meanwhile, the broader tech industry has been reducing its workforce and consolidating work into smaller, more specialized teams, further emphasizing the unique hiring needs of AI-focused companies for niche foreign-born workers.
Overall H-1B Applications Decline Amid Policy Uncertainty
Beyond individual company strategies, the overall H-1B landscape shows a general retreat. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services received 211,600 applications for the 2027 H-1B allocation, a significant drop from 343,981 the previous year. Immigration experts attribute this decline to policy uncertainty, with some employers opting out of the lottery entirely while awaiting clarity on new regulations.
A new wage-tier system, which favors higher-paid applicants in the lottery, is also influencing sponsorship decisions. Companies may be less inclined to sponsor new graduates if the odds of securing a lottery slot are perceived as low.
Blocked Fee and White House Response
The H-1B process faced additional complications when the Trump administration imposed a temporary $100,000 fee on overseas H-1B applicants. Although a federal judge later blocked this fee, ruling the administration lacked authority, recruiters noted that for top AI firms, such a fee was "a rounding error against the cost of not landing the right researcher."
The White House, however, pushed back on the ruling, asserting President Trump's legal authority to restrict entry of aliens not in America's best interests. Administration spokespersons emphasized commitment to safeguarding American worker opportunities and maintaining the integrity of employment-based visa programs.