By the Numbers – H-1B visas issued for more than a decade.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: Despite claiming for months that he would do everything he could to push comprehensive immigration reform through the US Congress before the end of the year, President Barack Obama has not been able to do so.
The Senate approved a version of immigration reform months ago, over the summer, but subsequent movement on the legislation has been close to nil.
The issue of comprehensive immigration reform – specifically, as it is outlined in the bill formerly known as “Gang of Eight” – has been a bone of contention with Indian IT companies, many of which feel they will be adversely affected by the passage of such legislation as it will levy large financial burdens on them and limit the number of workers they can bring in from India and other foreign countries.
In this “By the Numbers” piece, we examine trends of H-1B visa approval over the years from 2000 to 2012, given out by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):
257,640 – the total number of H-1B visa applications approved in 2000. Of these, 136,787 (53.1%) were original applications and 120,853 (46.9%) were renewals or extensions.
331,206 – the total number of H-1B visa applications approved in 2001. Of these, 201,079 (60.1%) were original applications and 130,127 (39.9%) were renewals or extensions.
197,537 – the total number of H-1B visa applications approved in 2002. Of these, 103,584 (52.4%) were original applications and 93,953 (47.6%) were renewals or extensions.
217,340 – the total number of H-1B visa applications approved in 2003. Of these, 105,314 (48.5%) were original applications and 120,853 (51.5%) were renewals or extensions.
287,418 – the total number of H-1B visa applications approved in 2004. Of these, 130,497 (45.4%) were original applications and 156,921 (54.6%) were renewals or extensions.
267,131 – the total number of H-1B visa applications approved in 2005. Of these, 116,927 (43.8%) were original applications and 150,204 (56.2%) were renewals or extensions.
270,981 – the total number of H-1B visa applications approved in 2006. Of these, 109,614 (40.5%) were original applications and 161,367 (59.5%) were renewals or extensions.
281,444 – the total number of H-1B visa applications approved in 2007. Of these, 120,031 (42.6%) were original applications and 161,413 (57.4%) were renewals or extensions.
276,252 – the total number of H-1B visa applications approved in 2008. Of these, 109,335 (39.6%) were original applications and 166,917 (60.4%) were renewals or extensions.
214,271 – the total number of H-1B visa applications approved in 2009. Of these, 86,300 (40.1%) were original applications and 127,971 (59.9%) were renewals or extensions.
192,990 – the total number of H-1B visa applications approved in 2010. Of these, 76,627 (39.7%) were original applications and 116,363 (60.3%) were renewals or extensions.
269,653 – the total number of H-1B visa applications approved in 2011. Of these, 106,445 (39.5%) were original applications and 163,208 (60.5%) were renewals or extensions.
262,569 – the total number of H-1B visa applications approved in 2012. Of these, 136,890 (52.1%) were original applications and 125,679 (47.9%) were renewals or extensions.
To contact the author, email to deepakchitnis@americanbazaaronline.com