TCS Secures Second-Highest H-1B Approvals After Amazon In 2025
Over 5,500 H-1B visas were granted to TCS, following Amazon, per USCIS data.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has secured the second-highest number of H-1B visa approvals in fiscal year 2025, with 5,505 petitions greenlit as of June, according to the latest U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data. This positions the Indian IT giant just behind Amazon, which led with 10,044 approvals, underscoring the heavy reliance of U.S. tech and outsourcing firms on skilled foreign talent, particularly from India, amid a fiercely competitive global labour market.
The H-1B programme, capped at 85,000 visas annually (65,000 regular plus 20,000 for U.S. master's degree holders), enables employers to hire professionals in speciality occupations like IT and engineering. Other prominent beneficiaries include Microsoft (5,189 approvals), Meta (5,123), Apple (4,202), Google (4,181), Deloitte (2,353), Infosys (2,004), Wipro (1,523), and Tech Mahindra Americas (951). Indian firms, leveraging the programme for cost-effective staffing, accounted for a significant share—over 20% in recent years—though approvals encompass renewals, transfers, and cap-exempt petitions, not solely new hires. USCIS reached the FY 2026 cap in July, signalling sustained demand despite scrutiny.
In a dramatic policy shift, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Friday titled "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers", imposing a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B petitions effective September 21, 2025, for 12 months unless extended. The measure targets "systemic abuse" by IT outsourcing companies, which the administration claims have displaced American workers through low-wage foreign labour. The fee dwarfs current costs—$215 for registration and $780 for Form I-129—potentially deterring mass sponsorships and raising expenses for employers reliant on the programme.
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The proclamation cites surging foreign STEM workers—from 1.2 million in 2000 to 2.5 million in 2019—while overall STEM jobs grew only 44.5%, with foreign shares in computer/math roles rising from 17.7% to 26.1%. IT firms allegedly exploit H-1B for 65% of approvals in recent years, offering 36% wage discounts for entry-level positions, leading to offshoring and layoffs. Examples include a firm approving over 5,000 H-1Bs in FY 2025 amid 15,000 U.S. job cuts; another with 1,700 approvals alongside 2,400 Oregon layoffs; a third slashing 27,000 roles since 2022 while gaining 25,000 visas; and a fourth eliminating 1,000 jobs after 1,100 approvals.
This overhaul, part of Trump's broader immigration crackdown since January, could reshape the $200 billion U.S. IT services sector, where Indian professionals hold 72% of H-1Bs. Industry leaders warn of talent shortages and innovation stifling, while supporters argue it protects domestic wages. As USCIS processes ongoing petitions, the fee's long-term impact on firms like TCS—employing over 600,000 globally—remains uncertain, potentially accelerating automation or domestic hiring initiatives.
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