Governor Abbott's January 2026 directive halted all new H-1B petitions at Texas state agencies and universities. What it means for researchers and existing workers.
In January 2026, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive directive prohibiting all state agencies and public universities from filing new H-1B visa petitions. The directive affects the University of Texas system, Texas A&M system, and dozens of state agencies. It does not currently block amendments or extensions for existing H-1B workers, but the policy language is ambiguous enough that many institutions have frozen all immigration filings out of caution. Thousands of researchers, professors, and state employees are affected.
Governor Abbott's January 2026 directive freezes new H-1B petitions at all Texas state agencies and public universities.
The ban affects the UT system, Texas A&M, and state agencies. Extensions and amendments for existing H-1B workers appear to be allowed but many institutions have frozen all filings. Cap-exempt university positions are the primary casualty. Affected workers should explore private sector alternatives or out-of-state university positions.
| Company | H-1B Filings | Texas HQ | Top Roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 55,150 | Austin, Dallas | Software Engineer, Solutions Architect |
| 33,416 | Austin | Software Engineer, Cloud Engineer | |
| Microsoft | 34,626 | Irving | Software Engineer, Program Manager |
| Deloitte | 18,200 | Dallas, Houston | Consultant, Advisory Senior |
| JPMorgan Chase | 12,400 | Plano, Houston | Software Engineer, Analyst |
| Tesla | 4,200 | Austin | Mechanical Engineer, Data Engineer |
| Oracle | 9,800 | Austin | Software Engineer, Cloud Architect |
| AT&T | 3,600 | Dallas | Network Engineer, Data Scientist |
| Texas Instruments | 4,100 | Dallas | Electrical Engineer, Design Engineer |
| Dell Technologies | 3,800 | Round Rock | Software Engineer, Systems Engineer |
The directive instructs all Texas state agencies and public institutions of higher education to cease filing new H-1B visa petitions. The key word is "new" — the directive does not explicitly prohibit extensions, amendments, or transfers for workers already on H-1B status. However, the legal language is broad enough that university counsel offices at UT Austin, Texas A&M, and UT Southwestern have interpreted it as a total freeze on all H-1B-related filings, including extensions. This overly cautious interpretation leaves existing H-1B researchers unable to renew their status.
The directive does not affect private employers in Texas. Companies like Amazon, Google, Tesla, and Dell continue to file H-1B petitions from their Texas offices at the same rate. The directive also does not affect O-1, J-1, or TN visa categories, creating potential workarounds for affected university employees who qualify for alternative visa classifications.
University positions are normally cap-exempt, meaning they do not count against the 85,000 H-1B annual cap and can be filed year-round. The Abbott directive eliminates this advantage for Texas public universities. Affected workers have several options: transfer to a private Texas employer (subject to cap), transfer to an out-of-state university (still cap-exempt), switch to O-1 extraordinary ability visa (no employer type restriction), or switch to J-1 research scholar status if eligible. Each option has significant trade-offs in terms of timeline, cost, and career impact.
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Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →No. The directive only applies to Texas state agencies and public universities. Private employers in Texas including Amazon, Google, Tesla, Microsoft, Dell, and thousands of others continue to file H-1B petitions without restriction. If you are currently at a Texas public university or state agency and your H-1B is affected, transferring to a private employer in Texas is the most direct solution — though you would lose cap-exempt status and be subject to the 85,000 annual cap if filing a new petition.
The directive technically only prohibits new H-1B petitions. Extensions for existing workers should be allowed under the directive's language. However, most Texas public university counsel offices have interpreted the directive broadly and frozen all H-1B activity including extensions, amendments, and portability filings. If your university is refusing to file your extension, consult an independent immigration attorney about your options — including requesting clarification from the Governor's office or pursuing a transfer to a private employer.
Yes. The Abbott directive specifically targets H-1B petitions. O-1A (extraordinary ability) and O-1B (extraordinary achievement in arts) visas are not affected. If you are a researcher with a strong publication record, significant citations, peer review service, or awards, you may qualify for O-1A. Universities can still file O-1 petitions. The O-1 has no annual cap and no lottery. The bar is higher than H-1B but many established researchers at UT and A&M already meet the criteria.
Estimates range from 2,500-4,000 H-1B workers across the UT System (14 institutions), Texas A&M System (11 universities), and various state agencies. The UT System alone employs approximately 2,000 H-1B workers, heavily concentrated in STEM research and medical center roles. MD Anderson Cancer Center, one of the world's top cancer research institutions, has several hundred H-1B researchers whose status renewals are now in question.