Walmart's H-1B Visa Applications Drop Sharply Amid US Policy Overhaul
The slowdown in tech hiring, which has significantly impacted Silicon Valley's recruitment of foreign talent, has now extended to the world's largest retailer. According to a recent report, Walmart submitted only 312 certified H-1B visa applications in the final quarter of 2025. This represents a dramatic reduction of more than half compared to approximately 860 applications in the same period a year earlier, and it is about 40% below the level from two years ago.
Policy Changes Drive Significant Decline in Visa Filings
Citing the latest data from the US Department of Labor, Business Insider highlighted that this steep decline is primarily due to changes in the work visa program, which began rolling out in September. In contrast, Walmart's competitors such as Target, Home Depot, and Lowe's maintained relatively consistent H-1B numbers over the same two-year window, indicating that Walmart's drop is not part of a broader retail trend but rather a specific response to evolving regulations.
Key Factors Behind the H-1B Hiring Drop
A combination of deliberate policy changes implemented during the Trump administration has made the H-1B process considerably more expensive and stringent for companies. These modifications include:
- Preference for Higher-Paid Applicants: Policies now favor candidates with higher salaries, shifting focus toward more specialized roles.
- Tighter Scrutiny of Applications: Increased regulatory oversight has led to more rigorous evaluation of individual visa petitions.
- Substantial Fee Increases: Most notably, a one-time $100,000 fee for each new application has been introduced, a cost that accumulates rapidly for large employers filing hundreds of applications quarterly.
These factors have collectively prompted companies to pull back on visa filings, as the financial and administrative burdens have escalated.
Broader Impact Across Major Tech Companies
Walmart is not isolated in this trend. Reportedly, Amazon, which posted the highest total in the data reviewed, saw its quarterly certified applications fall to 3,057 from 4,647 the previous year, a decline of roughly one-third. Similarly, tech giants like Google, Meta, and Microsoft have all curtailed their use of the H-1B program during the same period, reflecting a widespread adjustment to the new regulatory environment.
Higher Salaries for Fewer Workers: A Silver Lining
Despite the sharp reduction in applications, there is a positive aspect for those working at Walmart. Even as the number of filings decreased, the median base salary in Walmart's Q1 H-1B applications rose to $150,000. This marks an increase from $144,000 and $145,000 in the two prior years, indicating a shift toward more lucrative compensation packages.
This pattern aligns with the intended outcomes of Trump's policy changes: fewer overall visa applications but a greater emphasis on higher-paid, more specialized positions. Companies are now focusing their limited applications on the workers they most critically need, and they are willing to pay more to secure top talent in a competitive landscape.
The evolving dynamics of H-1B visa hiring underscore a significant transformation in how US companies approach foreign recruitment, balancing cost constraints with the demand for skilled professionals in an increasingly regulated environment.
