U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) increased visa denials for employment-based immigrants. According to Forbes, the government’s stricter immigration policies cause a spike in visa application denials. This trend makes working in the U.S. harder for highly skilled individuals.
According to government analysis, the denial rate for foreign nationals of extraordinary ability saw a twenty one percent increase during the 2025 fiscal year. Meanwhile, National Interest Waiver denials increased by twenty six percent in same time frame. The National Interest Waiver allows certain individuals whose work benefits the United States to bypass standard labor certification requirements. Overall, the immigration backlog grew by sixty-five percent over the same period.
Economists attribute these trends in part to recent policy changes, including the one-hundred-thousand-dollar H-1B petition fee, which effectively prices many employers and workers out of the U.S. labor market. The same policy shifts caused longer wait times for H-1B employers looking for visa renewals at U.S. consulates. Temporary visa categories have not been spared: O-1 visa denials jumped forty-six percent during fiscal year 2025.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical you get the right advice.