--- title: "US Immigration Statistics: Ten Years of H-1B Trends" description: By studying US immigration statistics and trends, you can learn a lot about the visa application process and how certain exemptions form. Today, we take an in-depth look at H-1B trends over the past ten years. image: https://www.pollakimmigration.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/business%20woman%20happy%20with%20her%20growth%20and%20success%20-%20isolated%20over%20a%20white%20background.jpeg --- [ info@pollakimmigration.com](mailto:info@pollakimmigration.com)[ 954-250-8335](tel:954-250-8335) [BOOK YOUR MEETING ](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/contact-us/) ![](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/business%20woman%20happy%20with%20her%20growth%20and%20success%20-%20isolated%20over%20a%20white%20background.jpeg) # US Immigration Statistics: Ten Years of H-1B Trends ![](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/business%20woman%20happy%20with%20her%20growth%20and%20success%20-%20isolated%20over%20a%20white%20background.jpeg) Posted by [ Karen-Lee Pollak ](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/author/karen-lee-pollak) May 14, 2018 ![us immigration statistics](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/business%20woman%20happy%20with%20her%20growth%20and%20success%20-%20isolated%20over%20a%20white%20background.jpeg?width=300&height=324&name=business%20woman%20happy%20with%20her%20growth%20and%20success%20-%20isolated%20over%20a%20white%20background.jpeg)Last month, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) hit its pre-mandated annual H-1B visa “cap” five days after April 1 (the first day they began accepting H-1B visa applications). Nominally, the cap affords for USCIS to issue 65,000 H-1B visas every year –– with an additional 20,000 reserved for applicants with a Master’s degree. That’s 85,000 visas issued in total. Fairly straightforward, right? Well, not exactly. If you take the trouble to pour over certain US immigration statistics supplied by the USCIS itself, you'll find that not only does the number of [H-1B visas](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/h1b-visa) given out per year exceed the cap of 85,000 –– but it does so by a significant total. So, to clear up the confusion around H-1B visas in the wake of the latest season, here’s an analysis of the past ten years of H-1B stats. ### **How Many H-1B Visas Are Issued Per Year?** According to[ immigration statistics from USCIS](https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/Reports%20and%20Studies/Immigration%20Forms%20Data/BAHA/h-1b-2007-2017-trend-tables-12.19.17.pdf), over 400,000 people applied for an H-1B visa in 2017, with just under 300,000 getting approval. In addition, a further 80,000 cases were still pending at the time of the report’s publishing. At this point, it’s natural to wonder how more than 200,000 people managed to obtain an H-1B visa than the supposed cap permits. The answer is nuanced and complicated (like most [immigration law](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/)). First, there are an unlimited number of “cap exempt” visa applications. H-1B applicants who are working at universities, non-profit research facilities associated with universities, and government research facilities are exempt. Second, the US has free-trade agreements with certain countries like Chile and Singapore that guarantees a certain allocation of H-1B visas are reserved for their inhabitants. However, if that quota is not met, then the remainder of those visas are made available for applicants from any country. Lastly, (and here’s the big one) there are a number of “rollover” cases from previous fiscal years (including visa extensions, holders applying for a new position, and amended petitions) that aren’t counted against the current year’s cap. ### **Quick H-1B Statistics**  Now that we’ve established why there are so many H-1B visas doled out every year, it’s time to look at some of the more intriguing trends over the past decade, so you can better understand the nature of the visa –– and who’s applying for them. - Unsurprisingly, a vast majority of applicants either achieved a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree before filing a petition. (Combined nearly 3 million from 2007-2017) - A whopping 2.2 million applications for H-1B visas were made by Indians between 07-17, almost two million more than the second-placed Chinese (approximately 300,000). In many ways this mirrors overarching immigration trends. [According to a study by the Pew Research Center ](http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/05/03/key-findings-about-u-s-immigrants/)in 2015, more new immigrants came from India than any other country. - Over two million H-1B petitions were filed for a position within a computer related field in the past decade. (Computer programming being the highest, with computer systems design, “other computer related services,” and software publishing all featuring in the top ten industries.) - The vast majority of people applying for H-1B visas are between the ages of 25-34. ### **Final Thoughts**  By looking at H-1B US immigration statistics a little more in-depth, we can begin to see a clearer picture of how the immigration process works. It’s worth noting that the H-1B visa is regularly in high demand, and making sure you adhere to the stringent application process is the best way to give yourself a chance at securing it. Not surprisingly then, a little legal help can go a long way. Contact Pollak PLLC today. We’ve got the knowledge and experience you need to make your immigration dream a reality. -- Karen-Lee Pollak is the Managing Attorney at [Pollak PLLC](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/) located in Dallas, Texas. She is a frequent speaker, author and blogger on immigration issues. She can be reached at [karenlp@pollakimmigration](mailto:karenlp@pollakimmigration.com/) or under her twitter handle [law_immigration](http://t.sidekickopen68.com/e1t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7lC8dDMPbW2n0x6l2B9nMJW7t5XYg2zWN02N4XHDFqQK8wnW1qwhg656dND3df4MWj02?t=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Flaw_immigration&si=6264415388434432&pi=1186ed40-03db-4cec-f538-aa0bc9493f43). Tags: - [Employment-Based Immigration](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/topic/employment-based-immigration) [ Share on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/us-immigration-statistics-ten-years-of-h-1b-trends) [Share on Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/us-immigration-statistics-ten-years-of-h-1b-trends&text=US%20Immigration%20Statistics:%20Ten%20Years%20of%20H-1B%20Trends) [ Share on Linkedin ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/us-immigration-statistics-ten-years-of-h-1b-trends&title=US%20Immigration%20Statistics:%20Ten%20Years%20of%20H-1B%20Trends) ## Related Posts ![U.S. Immigration Flat](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/@marketplace/OneIMS_com/Legal_Law/images/grayscale-mountain.png) October 6, 2009 ### U.S. Immigration Flat Statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau show that after nearly 40 years of recorded increases, the number of immigrants living in the United States remained flat between 2007... [ Read More ](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/bid/27255/u-s-immigration-flat) ![H-1B Cap Season is Here for Fiscal Year 2025. Are You Ready?](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/h1visa_1-resized-600-Jan-03-2025-12-23-18-6480-PM.jpg) January 21, 2024 ### H-1B Cap Season is Here for Fiscal Year 2025. Are You Ready? It is H-1B Cap Season again for Fiscal Year 2025. Like in prior years, there will be a two-step process – the registration step and then, if the registration is selected in the H-1... [ Read More ](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/h1b-cap-season-fy2025) ![H-1B Transfers: Time, Fees, and Process](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/hubfs/h1b%20transfer.jpg) November 30, 2025 ### H-1B Transfers: Time, Fees, and Process H-1B transfers let you change employers without going through the lottery again. If you qualify for AC21 portability under INA section 214(n), you can usually start working for you... [ Read More ](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/h1b-transfer-change-of-employer-processing-time-fee-and-everything-you-need-to-know) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Karen-Lee Pollak", "url" : "https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/author/karen-lee-pollak" }, "dateModified" : "2025-01-03T12:32:37.004Z", "datePublished" : "2018-05-14T05:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "US Immigration Statistics: Ten Years of H-1B Trends", "image" : [ "https://www.pollakimmigration.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/business%20woman%20happy%20with%20her%20growth%20and%20success%20-%20isolated%20over%20a%20white%20background.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/us-immigration-statistics-ten-years-of-h-1b-trends", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "//www.pollakimmigration.com/hubfs/Pollack-2017/Image/Pollack-orange-logo.png" }, "name" : "Pollak PLLC" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "LegalService", "department" : [ { "@type" : "LegalService", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Addison", "addressRegion" : "TX", "postalCode" : "75001", "streetAddress" : "5057 Keller Springs Rd, Suite 300" }, "email" : "info@pollakimmigration.com", "hasMap" : "https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pollak+PLLC/@32.958844,-96.8230226,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x864e993b29f864ef:0x4b23f3951a7aaedd!8m2!3d32.958844!4d-96.8230226!16s%2Fg%2F11c7_xxcf1?hl=en&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDcyMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D", "name" : "Pollak PLLC - Addison Office", "telephone" : "+1-214-307-5510", "url" : "https://www.pollakimmigration.com/areas-we-serve/dallas" }, { "@type" : "LegalService", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Fort Lauderdale", "addressRegion" : "FL", "postalCode" : "33304", "streetAddress" : "2598 E Sunrise Blvd, Suite #2104" }, "email" : "info@pollakimmigration.com", "hasMap" : "https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pollak+PLLC/@26.1373128,-80.1111488,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x88d9015e5c8534cb:0x87dca60227fd9933!8m2!3d26.1373128!4d-80.1111488!16s%2Fg%2F11y7d84z5g?hl=en&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDcyMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D", "name" : "Pollak PLLC - Fort Lauderdale Office", "telephone" : "+1-214-307-5510", "url" : "https://www.pollakimmigration.com/areas-we-serve/fort-lauderdale" } ], "description" : "Pollak PLLC is a trusted immigration law firm with over 100 five-star reviews, serving business owners, executives, investors, and professionals seeking employment- and investment-based immigration solutions. With decades of combined experience, our team assists clients with EB-5, E-2, E-3, L-1, H-1B, EB-2, EB-3, EB-1, and related visa strategies, offering tailored legal counsel and deep knowledge of U.S. immigration law. Our team lead by attorney Karen Lee-Pollak provides complete immigration solutions to corporations, small businesses, investors, and families interested in obtaining immigrant and non-immigrant visas to live and work in the United States", "email" : "info@pollakimmigration.com", "logo" : "https://www.pollakimmigration.com/hubfs/pllc_pollak_logo_orange.jpg", "name" : "Pollak PLLC", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/KarenPollakImmigration/", "https://emigrate2usa.co.za/united-states/addison/immigration-service-providers/pollak-pllc", "https://chambers.com/law-firm/pollak-pllc-usa-spotlight-120:23034001", "https://www.lawinfo.com/lawfirm/texas/addison/pollak-pllc/51d718df-eb5a-4846-b223-115a23966e2a.html", "https://www.lawline.com/lawyer/karen-lee-pollak", "https://www.instagram.com/pollakimmigration/?hl=en", "https://lawyers.uslegal.com/attorney/pollak-pllc-79506212/", "https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/addison/profile/immigration-lawyer/pollak-pllc-0875-91319139", "https://www.eb5investors.com/directories/immigration-attorneys/karenlee-pollak/", "https://greencardbyinvestment.com/lawyer/karen-lee-pollak", "https://www.youtube.com/user/immigrationgucl", "https://nextdoor.com/pages/pollak-pllc-addison-tx/", "https://www.yelp.com/biz/pollak-addison", "https://www.avvo.com/attorneys/75001-tx-karenlee-pollak-62210.html" ], "telephone" : "+1-214-307-5510", "url" : "https://www.pollakimmigration.com/" } ```