H-1B visas let US employers hire skilled foreign professionals in specialty occupations

Employers must apply for H-1B visas on behalf of foreign workers

To hire an H-1B worker, US employers first file with the Department of Labor, then petition the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. They must attest that they won't replace American workers, and that they will implement stricter rules for firms that rely heavily on H-1B visas.

The first H-1 visa was created in 1952

Congress established the original H-1 visa in 1952 through the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 to let US employers temporarily hire foreign professionals of "distinguished merit and ability" when qualified American workers were unavailable—a precursor to today's H-1B program.

Studies show H-1B workers help address shortages in STEM fields

Research finds that unemployment rates in occupations employing large numbers of H-1B workers remained low between 2004 and 2023, even during the pandemic. Other studies suggest H-1Bs complement US workers in STEM fields and expand job opportunities.

Studies link H-1B workers to patents, innovation, and productivity growth in the US

Research shows that H-1B visa holders boost innovation: Firms that employ many H-1Bs file more patents. Economists estimate that foreign STEM workers helped explain 30% to 50% of nationwide productivity growth from 1990 to 2010, while immigrant inventors disproportionately generated high-value patents.

The Immigration Act of 1990 created the modern H-1B visa

Signed by President George H.W. Bush, the 1990 Immigration Act split the broad H-1 category into specialized visas, establishing the current H-1B for "specialty occupations" requiring at least a bachelor's degree. The H-1A, for registered nurses, ended in 1997.

High demand forces H-1B visas into a lottery system each year

Because demand far exceeds the annual cap—65,000 new visas plus 20,000 for US master's graduates—employers must enter a lottery for new H-1B slots. In recent years, several hundred thousand petitions have competed for just 85,000 openings.

Critics call H-1B the "outsourcing visa"

Large IT firms, especially in India, have used H-1Bs to place workers in US offices, train them on client systems, and then shift the work overseas at lower cost. This practice fuels criticism that the visa facilitates offshoring.

Nearly 400,000 H-1B applications were approved in 2024

In 2024, nearly 400,000 H-1B petitions were approved, with about 65% of them renewals for existing workers. Roughly 70% of recipients were born in India, and nearly two-thirds of all H-1B jobs were in computer-related fields.

Study shows H-1B visas depress wages and reduce consumer tech costs

A paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that without H-1B workers, American computer scientists would earn 2.6% to 5.1% more and domestic employment could rise by 11%, but consumers would pay more for advanced technology, and output would decrease.

Congress temporarily raised the H-1B cap during the dot-com boom

To meet soaring demand for tech talent in the late 1990s, Congress lifted the H-1B cap from 65,000 to 195,000 visas between 2001 and 2003. The increase—tied to the dot-com bubble—lapsed once demand slowed, but an additional 20,000 slots for advanced degree holders were added.

The Trump administration said the new H‑1B fee curbs abuse but still attracts top talent

In announcing a fee on new H‑1B petitions, the Trump administration claimed the visa was exploited to replace American workers and suppress wages. Officials argued that a steep fee would deter abuse while still allowing employers to bring in the "best of the best" temporary foreign talent.

H-1B approval rates have swung sharply between administrations

Denial rates for new H-1B petitions rose from 6% in 2015 to 24% under the Trump administration as officials tightened standards. Under Biden, approvals rebounded, with denials falling to just 2% by 2022—the lowest since 2009.

Multiple legal pathways exist for immigrating to the United States

This comprehensive guide outlines various routes to US immigration, including family-sponsored and employment-based visas, as well as humanitarian protections. Navigate the complex American immigration system and understand the options available to prospective immigrants seeking legal entry.

The gig economy has rapidly transformed the way millions of Americans work

Rooted in flexibility and on-demand, project-based jobs, it provides opportunities for both side hustles and full-time income streams, appealing especially to younger generations seeking greater autonomy over traditional office roles. While gig work offers freedoms like flexible hours and project choice, it often lacks benefits like healthcare and retirement plans.

ICE was created in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks

Created by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 following 9/11, ICE enforces federal immigration, customs, and trade laws under DHS. With over 20,000 staff across 400 global offices and an $8B budget, it focuses on detention, deportation, and cross-border criminal investigations.

A 'holoported' medical team has been beamed into the International Space Station

In 2021, using the Microsoft HoloLens Kinect camera and custom Aexa Aerospace software, NASA's flight surgeon led a team of hologram doctors on a pioneering visit to the space station, marking a significant advancement in communication and telemedicine technologies that will be crucial for future deep-space missions.

The film industry is responsible for more than 200K jobs in California

Hollywood films generate roughly $49B for the US economy each year. In California, the film industry provides more than 200,000 jobs. Industry employees were paid more than $42B in wages in 2022.

Why the employment report matters to Wall Street

On the first Friday of every month, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the infamous "jobs report." The report essentially tracks how US employment is doing, from the unemployment rate to the number of people in the US currently on payroll. But most importantly, the jobs report has major implications for the economy at large. To find out how this monthly report impacts Wall Street, read this article.

HSAs are triple-tax advantaged—offering tax-free contributions, investments, and withdrawals

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Explore an interactive chart that shows peoples' annual salaries by occupation

The median salary for full-time workers in the United States was roughly $49.5K in 2024. An interactive chart details how salaries differ by occupation.

Finance is among the most popular specializations for MBA students

MBA specializations allow students to concentrate on a specific field during their studies. Other popular concentrations include marketing, entrepreneurship, and consulting. Learn more about MBA specializations in this article.

Biohacking can include everything from vitamins to brain implants

The growing field of biohacking hopes to help people work with their bodies to achieve health and longevity goals. Some claims go beyond current science, promising to help biohackers avoid cancer or cure heart disease, and much of the evidence supporting "biohacks" stems from subjective self-reports rather than clinical trials.

Why don't humans hibernate?

Hibernation is a superpower in the animal world that allows certain species to time travel from difficult times to abundance. This essay in Aeon explains this helpful natural process and why humanity's technological advancements may have hindered our ability to participate in the practice. Learn about the rising interest in human hibernation as a result of modern adversity, and if it could potentially become a reality.

Understanding the highly sensitive person

This article explores the world of highly sensitive people (HSP), detailing their traits and the discourse surrounding them. Read an honest probe into the personality trait that considers issues people with the HSP label have while also surfacing the shame that sensitive people may feel in society.

Hedge funds, the private investment firms that trade a wide swath of financial assets, make money by imposing steep fees on investors and from the fund's investment performance.

The global economy runs on US dollars

Nearly 90% of international trade in 2019 was processed in US dollars. It's not only the most circulated currency in the world but also considered one of the most stable.

Experimental hantavirus vaccines and therapies, still under development, have long been funded by the US military.

The US dollar is the most widely circulated currency in the world, and is involved in nearly 90% of global transactions

In 2025, four executives from large tech companies were given positions in the US Army Reserves—including Palantir Chief Technology Officer Shyam Sankar, which reinforced Palantir's ties with the US military and its role as a leading defense partner.

Take a 3D tour of the Hajj, Islam's annual pilgrimage to Mecca, undertaken by more than 1.5 million Muslims each year.

The American Society of Civil Engineers' infrastructure report card gave the US a C in 2025, its highest grade since the project launched in 1998.

According to the physics of black holes, our 4D reality may be a hologram—a projection of information coded on a 2D surface on the edge of the universe.

Calculate how much of your tax dollars go to each federal program based on your income, filing status, and number of children

This site reaches millions of visitors who are tired of AI chatbots and seeking human connection. Pretend to be an AI chatbot and ask questions, provide answers, and draw for people in real time.

Visualize how CRISPR-Cas9—a type of immune system used by single-celled organisms to attack invasive viruses—targets and makes precise changes to a gene's DNA.

Firework or sparkler burns, even if they cover a relatively small area of skin, can significantly affect our range of motion.

US housing costs have risen by roughly 175% between 1991 and 2026—but a growing number of Gen Zers are becoming homeowners anyway. In 2025, 4% of homebuyers were Gen Z, up from 3% the year before.

Despite being favored by 87% of Americans, Congress does not have term limits.

Budweiser stores yeast derived from the original 1800s strain in a secret bunker, which only the Head of Yeast Management can access—not even the CEO

Power lines are dotted with large, brightly colored balls to improve the visibility of these thin wires to helicopters and small planes and help prevent potential crashes.

Long before Major League Baseball began allowing instant replay for balls and strikes, an umpire reluctantly used the technology to determine whether a hit was a home run, a move that inadvertently ushered in a new era for the sport.

Bone marrow (soft tissue found inside certain bones) generates roughly 500 billion new blood cells each day

US intelligence allegedly pursued more than 600 schemes to assassinate Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro.

Clever Hans was a 1900s horse that was believed to be able to solve math equations, tell time, and read and comprehend German, until a psychology student discovered how he got his answers.

The word 'jazz' evolved from 'jasm,' 19th-century American slang for 'energy'

Hurricanes, which rely on air consistently spinning in the same direction, cannot cross the equator because air curves in opposite directions north and south of it.

Doctors differentiate between a phobia and fear by asking patients whether their fear interferes with their day-to-day activities.

Watch how deep-sea mining equipment collects and processes polymetallic nodules—metal-rich, potato-shaped rocks—from the ocean floor and creates environmentally damaging plumes of sediments.

The rivalry between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson centered on federalism—the question of how much power the federal government should hold relative to the states.

Some Pokémon have been named after real and fictional organisms, while some real-world species have been named after Pokémon, such as Chilicola charizard and Binburrum zapdos.