H-1B visas account for a quarter of temporary employment visas issued in 2017
In fiscal 2017, 179,049 high-skilled foreign workers received H-1B visas. As the nation’s biggest temporary employment visa program, H-1B visas accounted for about a quarter (23%) of all temporary visas for employment issued in 2017. In all, more than 1.6 million H-1B visas were issued from fiscal years 2007 to 2017. The denial rate of H-1B visa applications increased in 2019 under the Trump administration. Meanwhile, more H-1B visas went to immigrants with a U.S. master’s degree or higher. The administration has also said it plans to restrict work permits for spouses of H-1B holders.
H-1B visas account for a quarter of temporary  | employment visas issued in 2017  | Temporary employment visas issued, fiscal year 2017  | H-1B  | 179, 009 23%  | High-skilled workers  | H-2A  | 161 .583 20%  | Agricultural workers  | H4  | 136 .393 17%  | Family members ofh visa holders  | H-2B  | 83 .600 11%  | Other service workers  | Other employment visas  | 234 .224 29%  | Note: Other employment visas includes H1B1 H3 L 0, P and Q visas  | Source: U.S Department or State  | pew RESEARCH CENTER 