Microsoft Among Top US H-1B Sponsors in FY2025
Microsoft recorded about 5,189 total H-1B approvals in FY2025 (up from 4,725) including roughly 1,394 new initial-employment petitions, ranking among the top U.S. tech sponsors as the $100K-fee era began.
Why Does This Company Sponsor Visas?
Sustained hiring for cloud, AI (Copilot), and platform engineering
Many approvals are extensions/transfers exempt from the new fee
On-campus F-1 conversions provide a fee-exempt pipeline
Global R&D footprint requires specialized international talent
Impact Analysis
Microsoft's rising approvals show large tech firms maintaining H-1B sponsorship despite policy and cost headwinds, even as the company simultaneously ran voluntary U.S. workforce reductions in 2026.
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