H1b population too low

June 27, 2020

At the end of September, there were “approximately” 583,420 people on the H-1B living in the U.S, according to a U.S. Customs and Immigration report. The agency provided estimates going back the previous three years, but gave total numbers of people whose H-1B applications were approved, rather than the total it believes have been living in the country. The larger “approved” numbers don’t factor in withdrawals of approval or changes in visa status.

The estimates start at the end of September 2016, when the “approved” population was 564,663, and have fluctuated significantly since, dipping below 600,000 in two quarters and rising to a high of almost 650,000.