The Impact of Trump’s H-1B Visa Crackdown in 5 Charts
During Donald Trump’s presidency, the H-1B visa program—which allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations—came under intense scrutiny and overhaul. The administration’s “Buy American, Hire American” executive order triggered sweeping changes to how visas were adjudicated, leading to historic levels of denials, delayed approvals, and legal uncertainty. Here’s a closer look at the impact in five key charts:
1. Skyrocketing H-1B Denial Rates
The most dramatic indicator of the crackdown was the sharp rise in H-1B visa denial rates. Between FY 2016 and FY 2020, denial rates for initial H-1B petitions nearly quadrupled—from just 6% to over 24%. Tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, which heavily rely on foreign skilled labor, saw thousands of applications rejected under newly rigid criteria. This shift was largely driven by tightened definitions of “specialty occupations” and increased documentation demands.
2. Surge in Requests for Evidence (RFEs)
One hallmark of the crackdown was the explosion in Requests for Evidence (RFEs), where USCIS asked for additional proof before making a decision. In FY 2017, roughly 38% of H-1B petitions received RFEs. By FY 2019, that number ballooned to over 60%. The additional scrutiny caused costly delays, legal appeals, and growing frustration among employers and foreign talent alike.
3. Drop in H-1B Approvals for IT Services Companies
The crackdown appeared particularly targeted toward outsourcing and IT consulting firms, especially Indian tech giants such as Infosys, TCS, and Wipro. Approval rates for these companies fell dramatically, signaling a shift in USCIS policy that favored direct U.S. employers over third-party placement models. In contrast, in-house positions at U.S. tech companies fared relatively better, though still faced increased scrutiny.
4. Legal Battles and Court Reversals
Trump’s H-1B changes sparked a wave of litigation. Multiple federal courts struck down restrictive rules, including a key ruling in 2020 that overturned USCIS’s attempt to narrow the definition of “specialty occupation.” The data shows a turning point after court pushback and the COVID-19 pandemic, which temporarily froze H-1B processing. Legal resistance played a critical role in softening the administration’s broader objectives.
5. The Biden Rebound (Post-Trump Correction)
Following the 2020 election, the Biden administration quickly rolled back many of the Trump-era policies. Denial rates began to decline, RFEs dropped significantly, and H-1B adjudications started normalizing. However, the impact of the Trump years left a lasting imprint on U.S. immigration policy—prompting reforms, lawsuits, and debates that continue today.
