Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest IT services company, has emerged as the top Indian beneficiary of H-1B visas in fiscal year 2025, with 5,505 approvals as of June 30, 2025. This marks a significant achievement for TCS, securing the second-highest number globally, behind Amazon’s 10,044 approvals. The data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) underscores the continued reliance of Indian IT giants on the H-1B program amid a challenging visa landscape, including President Trump’s recent $100,000 annual fee hike. In this article, we explore TCS’s dominance, the broader context for Indian firms, and the implications for the global tech talent market.
TCS’s H-1B Leadership: Key Details
TCS’s 5,505 H-1B approvals in FY25 represent a resurgence, reclaiming the top spot among Indian companies after a two-year gap. Key insights from USCIS data include:
- Global Ranking: TCS ranks second worldwide, trailing only Amazon, and ahead of Microsoft (5,189), Meta (5,123), and Google (4,181).
- Indian Firms’ Share: Indian-origin companies secured 13,870 H-1B visas (13% of the total 106,922 issued till June), with TCS leading at 5,505, followed by Infosys (2,004), LTIMindtree (1,807), and HCL America (1,728).
- Historical Context: Over 2009–2025, TCS holds the record with 98,259 approvals, far surpassing Cognizant (92,435) and Infosys (87,654).
- Visa Utilization: These approvals support TCS’s global delivery model, filling roles in software development, AI, and cloud services, amid its FY26 hiring of 20,000 fresh graduates.
This leadership comes despite a modest year-over-year growth, reflecting TCS’s strategic focus on sustainable talent acquisition.
Factors Behind TCS’s H-1B Dominance
TCS’s position as the highest Indian beneficiary stems from several strategic and market factors:
- Scale and Global Footprint: As India’s largest IT firm with revenues exceeding $29 billion, TCS relies on H-1B visas to staff U.S. projects, where it derives over 50% of its revenue.
- Cost Efficiency: H-1B workers offer a 36% wage discount for entry-level roles compared to U.S. hires, enabling competitive pricing for clients.
- Talent Pipeline: TCS’s campus hiring and training programs feed into H-1B sponsorships, ensuring a steady flow of skilled engineers from India.
- Regulatory Navigation: Despite Trump’s $100,000 fee (effective September 21, 2025), TCS’s volume demonstrates resilience, though it may raise costs for future approvals.
Indian firms like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro have historically dominated H-1B approvals, accounting for 20% of grants in recent years.
Challenges Posed by Trump’s H-1B Fee Hike
The Trump administration’s executive order imposing a $100,000 annual H-1B fee aims to curb “systemic abuse” and prioritize American workers, but it poses risks for Indian IT firms:
- Cost Escalation: The fee, effective for 12 months unless extended, could add millions to TCS’s visa expenses, potentially leading to layoffs or wage adjustments.
- Talent Retention: With 73% of H-1B approvals going to Indians in 2023, the policy may drive talent back to India, as warned by Amitabh Kant.
- Business Impact: Critics argue it harms U.S. innovation, with one firm laying off 15,000 Americans while securing 5,000 H-1Bs.
- India’s Opportunity: The fee could accelerate India’s tech boom, with cities like Bengaluru benefiting from returning professionals.
Implications for Indian IT and Global Tech Talent
TCS’s H-1B success amid these challenges has broader ramifications:
- IT Sector Resilience: Indian firms’ 13% share demonstrates adaptability, but the fee hike may shift hiring to onsite alternatives or automation.
- U.S.-India Relations: The policy strains ties, potentially redirecting investments, as seen with Porter’s $100M fundraise and Urban Company’s 34% GMP.
- Global Talent Flow: With 71% of STEM H-1Bs going to Indians, restrictions could boost India’s ecosystem, aligning with the $20 billion Semiconductor Scheme.
- Economic Effects: For TCS, it supports revenue growth; for the U.S., it risks innovation loss, per Kant’s “America’s loss, India’s gain” view.
The Bigger Picture: H-1B in a Shifting Tech Landscape
TCS’s H-1B leadership reflects the program’s role in fueling India’s $250 billion IT exports, even as global policies evolve. Amid Trump’s tariffs causing FedEx a $1B hit and SpaceX’s $17B spectrum deal, talent mobility is key to innovation. India’s tech surge—sixfold electronics growth, Infosys’ hiring, and crypto dominance—positions it to capitalize on U.S. restrictions.
The fee’s impact on wage disparities and layoffs highlights ongoing debates about H-1B’s fairness.
What’s Next for H-1B and Indian IT Firms?
Key developments include:
- Legal challenges to the fee, potentially delaying or modifying the order.
- TCS and peers optimizing visa strategies, like increasing L-1 transfers.
- India enhancing domestic incentives to attract returning talent.
- USCIS data updates for FY26, tracking the fee’s early effects.
Conclusion
TCS’s status as the highest Indian H-1B beneficiary in 2025, with 5,505 approvals, cements its global leadership despite Trump’s $100,000 fee hike. As Indian IT firms navigate rising costs, the policy could redirect talent to India’s thriving ecosystem, boosting innovation in Bengaluru and beyond. In a world of shifting trade and tech dynamics, TCS’s resilience highlights the enduring value of skilled global mobility.
