Walmart submitted 312 certified H-1B visa applications during the final quarter of 2025, marking a significant decline as the retail giant adjusts to new federal immigration policy costs.

Key Points

• Walmart’s H-1B application volume dropped by more than 50% compared to the same period in 2024.
• The decline follows new federal regulations, including a $100,000 fee per new application and stricter scrutiny for foreign workers.
• Major tech firms like Amazon, Google, and Meta have similarly reduced their reliance on the H-1B program amid rising costs and hiring shifts.
• Despite the reduction, the median base salary for Walmart’s H-1B applicants rose to $150,000, up from $144,000 in previous years.
• The Department of Labor data indicates that Walmart maintains a significantly higher volume of visa applications compared to other major retailers like Target and Home Depot.

Why it Matters

The sharp reduction in visa applications reflects a broader corporate trend of scaling back international hiring in response to increased regulatory costs and economic uncertainty. This shift suggests that major employers are prioritizing leaner, more specialized teams while navigating a more expensive and complex federal immigration landscape.