Large information technology staffing and outsourcing firms sharply reduced their participation in the fiscal year 2027 H-1B cap process. Federal data cited in a September 2026 presidential proclamation shows that registrations from the largest firms in this category fell 92%, from 24,946 in FY 2026 to 2,055 in FY 2027. (whitehouse.gov)
Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Cognizant were among the employers reporting the largest reductions. For F-1 students and professionals on Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT, the figures suggest that H-1B sponsorship through some major IT services employers became considerably more limited—but they do not establish that every applicant received better selection odds.
The American Bazaar reported the following company-level registration counts, while an October 14 Congressional Research Service (CRS) report confirmed the corresponding percentage declines: (americanbazaaronline.com)
| Employer | FY 2026 registrations | FY 2027 registrations | Approximate decline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infosys | 8,886 | 759 | 91% |
| TCS | 5,955 | 284 | 95% |
| Cognizant | 3,752 | 0 | 100% |
| Combined | 18,593 | 1,043 | 94.4% |
The three-company total is different from the broader government figure of 24,946 registrations falling to 2,055. The government data covers a larger group of leading IT staffing and outsourcing employers, while the table above includes only Infosys, TCS and Cognizant.
An H-1B registration is an employer’s entry for a beneficiary in the cap-selection process. It is not an approved petition, issued visa or confirmed job placement. A selected registration only allows the employer to file a cap-subject H-1B petition.
Lower participation by large employers may reduce part of the competition, but the FY 2027 process was not a simple system in which every registration received an equal chance.
A Department of Homeland Security final rule effective February 27, 2026, introduced wage-weighted selection for FY 2027. Under this system, registrations are entered into the selection pool according to the offered position’s Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics level:
Every wage level remains eligible, but positions associated with higher wage levels receive greater weight. Each unique beneficiary is still counted only once toward the annual numerical allocation. (federalregister.gov)
Therefore, an applicant’s prospects depend on more than the number of registrations submitted by Infosys, TCS or Cognizant. The complete registration pool, offered wage, occupation, work location, U.S. advanced-degree eligibility and number of selections made by USCIS can all affect the outcome.
Day1CPT.org’s guide to the FY 2027 H-1B wage-level weighted selection system explains the process in greater detail.
Government data indicates that the composition of the FY 2027 registration pool also changed:
These figures show that FY 2027 registrations and selections moved toward workers with U.S. graduate degrees and higher-wage job offers. They do not, however, provide a universal selection rate for every worker at a particular salary or education level.
Wage levels are determined using the occupation and area of intended employment—not salary alone. Students evaluating an offer can review Day1CPT.org’s H-1B salary and wage-level guide for additional background.
The immediate implication is that international graduates should not assume that employers with historically high H-1B filing volumes will continue sponsoring at the same level.
Before accepting or relying on a position for future sponsorship, candidates should clarify:
The decline does not automatically affect existing H-1B employees at these companies. Cap registrations for prospective workers are separate from H-1B extensions, amendments and change-of-employer petitions.
The available data also does not prove why each company reduced its registrations. Government policy changes may have influenced filing behavior, but business demand, local hiring, offshore staffing and company-specific sponsorship policies may also have contributed. CRS did not attribute the reductions to a single cause. (everycrsreport.com)
No. The statutory structure remains 65,000 regular-cap positions plus up to 20,000 positions under the U.S. advanced-degree exemption. The reported decline concerns employer registrations, not a reduction in the number of H-1B cap numbers established by law. (federalregister.gov)
The data does not establish a permanent end to Cognizant’s H-1B sponsorship. It shows no reported FY 2027 cap registrations in the cited comparison. The company could adopt a different approach in future cap seasons or continue filing other types of H-1B petitions, including eligible extensions or change-of-employer cases.
Yes. The FY 2027 rule keeps positions at every wage level eligible for selection. However, a Wage Level I registration receives one entry in the weighted pool, compared with up to four entries for Wage Level IV. Selection is never guaranteed at any level. (federalregister.gov)
Not by themselves. An employer’s decision to submit fewer new cap registrations does not automatically cancel existing H-1B approvals. A current worker’s status depends on the individual’s approved petition, continued qualifying employment and compliance with applicable immigration requirements.