H-1B Visa Approvals: Overview – By Nationality and By Occupation
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. In fiscal year (FY) 2024, USCIS approved approximately 399,403 H-1B petitions (including initial and continuing employment). Of these, about 65% (258,196) were renewals/extensions, and 35% (141,207) were new approvals. Data on nationalities (by country of birth) and occupations is primarily available for FY 2023 (the most recent comprehensive breakdown from USCIS via Freedom of Information Act requests), but patterns remain consistent year-over-year, with India dominating nationalities and computer-related roles leading occupations.
H-1B Visa Approvals By Nationality (Country of Birth)
India overwhelmingly leads, accounting for the majority of approvals due to demand in tech and engineering sectors. In FY 2023, 73% of approved H-1B workers were born in India, a trend that continued into FY 2024 where Indian-origin companies secured nearly 20% of approvals (24,766 out of 130,000 reported in partial data). China follows distantly. Below is a table of top nationalities based on FY 2023 approvals (total: ~386,000 approvals).
|
Rank
|
Country of Birth
|
Share of Approvals (%)
|
Approximate Number (FY 2023)
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
India
|
73%
|
281,780
|
|
2
|
China
|
12%
|
46,320
|
|
3
|
Canada
|
2%
|
7,720
|
|
4
|
South Korea
|
2%
|
7,720
|
|
5
|
Taiwan
|
1%
|
3,860
|
|
6
|
Philippines
|
1%
|
3,860
|
|
7
|
Mexico
|
1%
|
3,860
|
|
–
|
All Others
|
8%
|
30,880
|
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of USCIS FOIA data (received September 2024). This dominance reflects outsourcing trends and STEM education pipelines from India.
H-1B Visa Approvals By Occupation
H-1B visas are concentrated in tech and engineering, with computer-related roles comprising over 70% of approvals. In FY 2023, these fields drove the majority, aligning with employer needs in software and IT services. Partial FY 2024 data shows similar patterns, with professional/scientific/technical services (NAICS 54) accounting for ~50% of initial approvals industry-wide. Below is a table of top occupations based on FY 2023 approvals.
|
Rank
|
Occupation Category
|
Share of Approvals (%)
|
Approximate Number (FY 2023)
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Computer-Related (e.g., Software Developers, Systems Analysts)
|
72%
|
277,920
|
|
2
|
Architecture, Engineering, Surveying
|
10%
|
38,600
|
|
3
|
Administrative Specializations (e.g., Management Analysts)
|
6%
|
23,160
|
|
4
|
Education
|
3%
|
11,580
|
|
5
|
Medicine and Health
|
2%
|
7,720
|
|
6
|
Life Sciences
|
2%
|
7,720
|
|
7
|
Mathematics and Physical Sciences
|
1%
|
3,860
|
|
–
|
All Others
|
4%
|
15,440
|
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of USCIS FOIA data (received September 2024). Occupations are classified by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes, emphasizing specialty roles like software engineering (O*NET 15-1252), which alone often exceeds 50% of totals.For the latest FY 2024/2025 breakdowns, USCIS’s H-1B Employer Data Hub provides queryable data by NAICS industry codes, confirming tech’s lead. Trends are substantiated by consistent USCIS reports, showing minimal shifts despite cap reforms.