Top Indian IT firms slash H-1B lottery entries as US visa rules tighten

A Center for... report published on October 14 shows that Cognizant, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services cut their H-1B lottery registrations by 100%, 91% and 95% respectively, after the Trump administration rolled out stricter visa rules. Key changes include a $100,000 fee introduced in September 2025 (currently blocked by litigation), a proposed $103,265 cap-subject fee, and higher minimum wages for H-1B workers, which the Department of Labour estimates could add $1.46 billion in costs in the first year.

In February 2026 the Department of Homeland Security replaced the random lottery with a weighted system that favors higher-paid positions, and later executive orders require agencies to consider employer layoffs when reviewing petitions. The Department of Labour also launched investigations into alleged fraud and human-trafficking in the program. While the sharp drop in registrations signals reduced employer participation, the report does not quantify the direct impact on the three firms or on Indian professionals seeking U.S. jobs.