H-1B visa news: Why employers continue to face hardships despite almost 98% annual approvals

US employers are still getting most H-1B petitions approved, but the climate around the visa program is getting tougher. New reporting from The American Bazaar says the overall H-1B approval rate remains close to 98%.

Immigration attorney Kevin J. Andrews told the outlet, “The H-1B approval rate for FY2025 is steady at about 98 per cent, but the operating environment for FY2026 looks materially harder. The friction has moved from adjudication to architecture.”