The H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialized fields such as technology, engineering, and healthcare, has been a hotly debated topic in recent years. Tech moghul Elon Musk and US president-elect Donald Trump have voiced support for the program, while MAGA natives have criticized it, fueling the ongoing discourse on immigration and employment.
Typically, H-1B visa is granted for three years but can be extended for an additional three years, offering stability for foreign professionals in the U.S. workforce. According to a 2022 report by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the majority of H-1B beneficiaries come from India and China, followed by Canada, South Korea, and the Philippines.
The program is vital for addressing the demand for specialized talent across industries such as technology, healthcare, and finance. While the U.S. government caps the number of new H-1B visas at 65,000 each year, an additional 20,000 visas are available for applicants with a master’s degree or higher. This policy ensures that U.S. employers can access highly skilled workers to remain competitive in the global economy. These workers typically fill specialized roles that require expertise not easily found within the domestic workforce.
Massachusetts: A Powerhouse for H-1B Visas
Massachusetts is a significant sponsor of H-1B visas in the United States. In fiscal year 2024, Massachusetts filed over 5,000 Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) for H-1B visas, with a high approval rate, suggest data from the US Department of Labor. Boston, the state’s capital, plays a central role in this dynamic, with the US Department of Labor reporting that the city filed 6,096 LCAs in 2024 alone. This surge in applications highlights sectors such as technology, healthcare, and engineering, which are key industries driving the state’s need for H-1B workers. Reports suggest that Ernst & Young, a top sponsor, filed over 300 LCAs in fiscal year 2023.
H-1B Visas 2024: Top Sponsors of Massachusetts
Since 2009, over 15,000 employers in Massachusetts have participated in the H-1B visa program, collectively sponsoring more than 224,000 visa beneficiaries, according to data from USCIS. Here is the list of the top H-1B sponsors in Massachusetts for fiscal year 2024.
| Employer |
Beneficiaries Approved in FY 2024 |
| Fidelity Investments | 1,771 |
| Virtusa Corporation | 523 |
| Randstad Digital LLC | 390 |
| Boston Consulting Group | 387 |
| Mathworks Inc | 295 |
| State Street Bank and Trust Company | 254 |
| Harvard University | 209 |
| Wayfair | 198 |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | 193 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 168 |
SOURCE: USCIS
