The USCIS Annual Report to Congress, released on February 11, 2026, indicates that 456,725 H-1B petitions were filed, reflecting a 7% increase year-over-year. However, approvals fell to 406,348, marking a 17.8% decline and the lowest approval rate in five years. Notably, India accounted for approximately 283,772 of the petitions, representing around 70% of the total submissions. Furthermore, 72% of the approvals were for extensions or renewals rather than new hires.
Key Details:
- Total petitions filed: 456,725 (up 7% YoY)
- Total approvals: 406,348 (down 17.8%)
- India received ~283,772 H-1B petitions (~70% of total)
- 72% of approvals were for extensions/renewals
This decline in approvals may impact many skilled workers seeking new opportunities in the U.S. Need help with your immigration case? Visit QuickFiling.us for professional immigration services.
Source: DuncanBurnsMA