Oracle Files 436 H-1B Visas for Fiscal Year 2026

Oracle America Inc., headquartered in Austin, Texas, has filed roughly 3,126 petitions for H-1B visas over the last two fiscal years while simultaneously laying off thousands of American workers.

Federal data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services indicates that the software company filed for 2,690 H-1B visas during fiscal year 2025, which spanned from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. In fiscal year 2026, which began on October 1, 2025, Oracle has filed an additional 436 petitions as of April 2026.

These visa requests coincide with a period of significant workforce reduction. On April 1, 2026, thousands of Oracle employees were notified of their termination via email. Some workers reported receiving letters that stated today is your last working day.

Industry Trends and Comparisons

The practice of filing for foreign worker visas amid domestic layoffs is not limited to Oracle. Amazon filed approximately 2,675 H-1B petitions during the same two-year fiscal period. This occurred as the retail and cloud giant reduced its corporate headcount, axing 14,000 corporate workers in October 2025 and another 16,000 corporate employees in January 2026.

These movements are part of a broader contraction within the United States technology sector. During the first quarter of 2026, the U.S. Tech industry recorded 52,050 layoffs, many of which were attributed to organizational shifts driven by artificial intelligence.

Employee Reaction and Program Debate

The revelation of Oracle’s H-1B filings has triggered backlash among employees and industry observers. On the anonymous professional forum Blind, one verified employee characterized the visa petitions as a slap in our face.

The user on Blind suggested that the filings were particularly egregious given the existence of heartfelt posts on LinkedIn from U.S. Citizens who were laid off after years of service at Oracle. Other commenters on the platform alleged that large technology corporations utilize massive layoffs as a strategy to later rehire workers at lower salary levels, with one user stating that transnational corporations are disloyal to the American state and the nation.

The H-1B visa program is designed to allow U.S. Companies to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations, such as technology, when they cannot find local candidates with comparable skills. Supporters of the program argue We see essential for companies to remain competitive in the development of cutting-edge technology by filling critical talent gaps.

Conversely, critics argue that the program is frequently exploited to replace American workers with foreign labor that can be hired at lower costs, thereby placing domestic workers at a competitive disadvantage.

Neither Oracle nor Amazon has provided public comments or replied to requests for information regarding their respective H-1B visa filings or the associated layoffs.