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H-1B Approval Rates by Company

Compare approval rates across FAANG, consulting firms, startups, and more. Understand what drives H-1B success.

Not all H-1B petitions are created equal. Approval rates vary dramatically by company — some employers see 95%+ approval rates while others struggle below 70%. Understanding these differences can help you target employers where your petition is most likely to succeed and avoid companies with red flags in their filing history.

Overall H-1B Approval Trends

The overall H-1B approval rate has fluctuated significantly over the past decade. After dropping to around 84% during the heightened scrutiny of 2018-2020, approval rates have recovered to approximately 93-95% as of FY2024. However, these averages mask huge variation between employers.

FAANG and Big Tech Companies

Major technology companies consistently achieve the highest H-1B approval rates:

  • Google: Historically 97-99% approval rate with very low RFE rates. Google files primarily for Level 3-4 (senior) positions with high wages, which USCIS favors.
  • Amazon: 95-98% approval rate. As the single largest H-1B filer by volume, Amazon's scale gives it extensive immigration expertise.
  • Meta (Facebook): 97-99% approval rate. Meta typically files for specialized roles with wages well above prevailing wage, reducing scrutiny.
  • Apple: 96-99% approval rate. Apple files fewer H-1B petitions than other FAANG companies but maintains excellent approval rates.
  • Microsoft: 96-98% approval rate. Microsoft's long history of H-1B sponsorship and strong legal team contribute to consistently high approvals.

Why Big Tech succeeds: high wages (often 150-300% of prevailing wage), clearly defined specialty occupation roles, experienced immigration counsel, and strong company profiles.

IT Consulting and Staffing Firms

IT consulting companies face significantly more scrutiny and lower approval rates:

  • Large consulting firms (Infosys, TCS, Wipro, Cognizant): Approval rates typically range from 75-90%. These firms file high volumes and often place workers at third-party client sites, which triggers additional USCIS scrutiny.
  • Mid-size staffing firms: Approval rates can be as low as 60-80%. The third-party worksite arrangement and Level 1 wages are frequent RFE triggers.
  • Small IT staffing companies: Often the lowest approval rates, sometimes below 60%. USCIS is particularly skeptical of small staffing companies with many H-1B workers relative to total employees.

What Are RFEs and Why Do They Matter?

A Request for Evidence (RFE) is when USCIS asks for additional documentation before making a decision. RFEs add 60-90 days of processing time and require additional attorney work. Common RFE triggers include:

  • Specialty occupation: USCIS questions whether the job truly requires a bachelor's degree in a specific field.
  • Employer-employee relationship: Common for consulting/staffing firms where the worker is placed at a client site.
  • Wage level: Level 1 (entry-level) wages for positions described as complex or senior.
  • Beneficiary qualifications: Questions about whether the worker's degree matches the job requirements.

Startups and Small Companies

Startups and small companies have mixed results:

  • Well-funded tech startups: Often achieve 85-95% approval rates if they pay competitive wages and file for clearly specialized roles.
  • Early-stage startups: Face more scrutiny. USCIS may question the company's ability to pay the prevailing wage or the legitimacy of the offered position. Providing evidence of funding, revenue, or contracts helps.
  • Small non-tech companies: Approval rates vary widely. Companies with consistent filing history tend to do better than first-time filers.

How to Use Approval Rate Data

When evaluating potential employers on Wisa, look at:

  • Multi-year trends: A company with consistently high approval rates is safer than one with volatile results.
  • Filing volume: Companies that file regularly have refined their process and are less likely to make petition errors.
  • Wage levels: Employers filing at Level 2+ wages have significantly higher approval rates than those filing at Level 1.
  • Industry patterns: Direct employers (product companies) generally outperform staffing/consulting firms in approval rates.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies have the highest H-1B approval rates?

Major technology companies like Google, Apple, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft consistently achieve 95-99% H-1B approval rates. These companies pay well above prevailing wage, file for clearly specialized roles, and use experienced immigration attorneys. Large banks, pharmaceutical companies, and established enterprises also tend to have high approval rates.

Why do consulting companies have lower H-1B approval rates?

IT consulting and staffing firms face additional USCIS scrutiny because of the third-party worksite arrangement. USCIS questions the employer-employee relationship when a worker is placed at a client site. These firms also tend to file at lower wage levels, which triggers more Requests for Evidence (RFEs).

What is an RFE and how does it affect my H-1B?

A Request for Evidence (RFE) is when USCIS asks your employer for additional documentation before approving or denying the petition. RFEs add 60-90 days to processing and require extra attorney work. They don't mean your petition will be denied — many RFE responses result in approval — but they do add uncertainty and delay.

Do startups have good H-1B approval rates?

It depends. Well-funded startups paying competitive wages can achieve 85-95% approval rates. Early-stage startups face more scrutiny because USCIS may question the company's ability to pay prevailing wages. Having evidence of funding, revenue, or client contracts significantly improves a startup's H-1B success rate.

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Companies That Sponsor H-1B VisasHow Much Does H-1B Sponsorship Cost?Small Companies That Sponsor H-1B VisasHow to Convince Your Employer to Sponsor Your H-1B