H-1B visa registrations saw a 38% drop; Another green card petition? US tightens rules for seeking permanent residence | Today’s news
Registrations for H-1B visas fell 38 percent in fiscal year 2027, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reported on Thursday, May 21. In 2026, there were 343,981 registrations, which dropped to 211,600 in 2027.
“These data are a clear indication that the days of the program being abused by low-wage mass enrollments are over and that the program is better serving its intended purpose of attracting highly skilled foreign workers and protecting the wages, working conditions, and employment opportunities of American workers,” USCIS wrote on X.
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The Trump administration tightened the rules for H-1B visa applications this year. They included a $100,000 fee for the new H-1B through petitions, favoring “higher-skilled and better-paid aliens” and social media screening.
USCIS said Thursday that this year’s H-1B season saw “great results” from “new policies that put America first.”
Listing some of those “results,” the agency said, “We are approving more applicants with higher education and higher salaries — especially those who studied at American universities.”
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It said, “An overwhelming 71.5% of aliens selected have a US master’s degree or higher, compared to 57% last year.”
Second, a “stronger workforce” was cited. USCIS stated, “This year, only 17.7% of all registrations selected were in the lowest wage category.”
“Restoring integrity” was the third item on the list. It says: “The number of properly filed registrations fell 38.5%, from 343,981 in FY2026 to just 211,600 in FY2027.”
According to USCIS data, Indians account for an estimated 71 percent of all approved H-1B applications in recent years, with China in second place. Major fields include technology, engineering, medicine, and research.
New rule for green card aspirants
US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on Friday, May 22: “Starting now, an alien who is temporarily in the US and wants a green card must return to their home country to apply (for ‘Adjustment of Status’) except in extraordinary circumstances.”
“This policy allows our immigration system to function as intended by law, instead of encouraging loopholes,” the department said.
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Previously, “Edit status” process allowed a person to apply for a green card (lawful permanent resident status) while in the US – without having to return to their home country to complete visa processing.
For those outside the US, they will need to obtain a visa through consular processing.
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However, that has now changed. Now, USCIS only grants “Adjustment of Status” under extraordinary circumstances, and those who want a green card must return to their home country to apply.
The target of this new rule is not illegal aliens, but those coming to the US on temporary (non-immigrant) visas such as H-1B, O-1, H-2A/H-2B, B-1, B-2.
Migrants will thus not be able to stay in the United States and wait for permanent residency.
USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler said, “Having aliens apply from their home country will reduce the need to find and remove those who choose to slip into the shadows and remain in the US illegally after being denied residency.”
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A spokesperson clarified: “Nonimmigrants, such as students, temporary workers or people on tourist visas, come to the US for a short period of time and for a specific purpose. Our system is designed so that they leave when their visit is over. Their visit should not act as the first step in the green card process.”
“The law allows the State Department to handle most of these cases at U.S. consular posts abroad and frees up limited USCIS resources to focus on processing other cases that fall under its purview, including visas for victims of violent crime and human trafficking, naturalization applications, and other priorities. The law was written that way for a reason, and while it has been ignored for years,” the spokesman said, compliance will help make our system more efficient.
Having a green card (officially known as a permanent resident card) allows you to live and work permanently in the United States
