2025 Work Visa Boom: US H-1B & UK Skilled Worker Changes Opening Doors for Tech Pros

The year 2025 has brought some of the biggest shifts in skilled-work visas that we’ve seen in a decade. Both the United States and the United Kingdom have rolled out new rules that directly affect tech professionals — especially the hundreds of thousands of software engineers, data scientists, and IT specialists from India, Pakistan, China, and other countries who power global tech hubs.

If you’re a developer, DevOps engineer, cybersecurity expert, or AI specialist thinking about your next career move, these changes matter. Some doors have closed, others have opened wider, and a few new costs have appeared.

Here’s a clear, no-fluff breakdown of exactly what changed, how it affects you, and what you need to do next — all based on the latest official announcements from USCIS and the UK Home Office.

What Actually Changed with the US H-1B Visa in 2025

The H-1B is still the main route for tech companies in the US to bring in foreign talent. The annual cap stays at 85,000 new visas, but two major updates went live this year.

First, USCIS published a major modernization rule in January 2025 that makes life easier for people already working in the US:

• Extensions with the same employer and same job now get “deference” — meaning officers will respect earlier approvals instead of starting from scratch.
• Startup founders who own their own company can finally petition for themselves (a huge win for Indian-origin entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley).
• The whole registration and petition process is now truly beneficiary-centric, which reduces gaming of the lottery system.

Second — and this one surprised everyone — a Presidential Proclamation in September 2025 introduced a new $100,000 supplemental fee for brand-new H-1B petitions filed after 21 September 2025. This fee only applies to fresh cap-subject petitions (FY 2026 onwards). Extensions, amendments, and people already in valid H-1B status are completely exempt.

Official USCIS clarification on the new $100,000 fee → https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts

Bottom line for tech workers: If you already have an H-1B or can get into the US before the new fee kicks in fully, you’re in a much better position. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are still filing thousands of petitions, but many are now prioritizing internal transfers and extensions over brand-new hires.

UK Skilled Worker Visa: Higher Bar, But Still Very Much Open for Tech Roles

Across the Atlantic, the UK government delivered on its 2024-2025 immigration white paper promises. The biggest change happened on 22 July 2025: the minimum skill level for the Skilled Worker route jumped from RQF Level 3 (A-level equivalent) to RQF Level 6 (bachelor’s degree equivalent).

That single change wiped out thousands of medium-skilled roles overnight, but almost every mainstream tech job — software developer, data engineer, cloud architect, cyber specialist — remains fully eligible.

Current salary thresholds (updated with 2024 earnings data):

Also Read: Trump Admin Bars Visas Over Health Issues: New Rules for Immigrants Explained

• General threshold: £41,700 per year
• Going rate for your specific occupation code (for example, £51,200 for SOC 2136 – Programmers and software development professionals)
• Lower rates still apply if your job is on the Immigration Salary List (many IT shortage roles are)

Indian nationals continue to dominate: in the year ending June 2025, they received more Skilled Worker visas than all other nationalities combined.

Full list of eligible occupations and going rates → https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations

Another important date to mark: from 16 December 2025, the Immigration Skills Charge that employers pay will rise by about 32%. Large sponsors will pay £1,320 per year per worker instead of the previous £1,000.

Side-by-Side Comparison: US H-1B vs UK Skilled Worker Visa (November 2025)

Feature	US H-1B Visa	UK Skilled Worker Visa
Minimum education	Bachelor’s or equivalent	RQF Level 6 (degree level)
Salary requirement	Prevailing wage (varies by location/role)	£41,700 or occupation going rate
Annual cap	85,000 (strict)	No cap
Big new cost in 2025	$100,000 fee on new petitions (post-Sept)	32% rise in employer Immigration Skills Charge
Maximum initial stay	3 years (extendable to 6)	5 years
Path to permanent residency	Possible via EB-2/EB-3 green card	Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 years
Dependants allowed	Yes (H-4 visa)	Yes (with upcoming English requirement)

What This Means for Indian (and Pakistani, Filipino, Chinese…) Tech Professionals Right Now

1. If you’re early or mid-career and don’t have an H-1B yet
   The new US $100,000 fee makes it much harder for fresh graduates or people switching companies. Many Indian IT services firms are responding by keeping staff on L-1 intra-company transfers or simply extending existing H-1Bs.
2. If you already have an H-1B
   You’re largely unaffected by the new fee. Focus on maintaining continuous employment and filing extensions on time.
3. The UK is now a stronger alternative for many
   No visa cap + faster processing (3–8 weeks) + clear salary tables make the UK route attractive — especially for roles paying £50,000–£80,000, which clear the threshold easily.
4. Remote and hybrid roles are exploding
   Companies that can’t justify the new US fee are offering permanent remote positions with US/UK contracts but no relocation. This is a genuine third option for many engineers in India and Pakistan.

Practical Next Steps If You Want to Move in 2025–2026

• Update your LinkedIn and CV to clearly show degree-level qualifications and years of experience.
• Target companies that are licensed UK sponsors (you can search the register here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-workers.
• For the US, focus on large employers who filed 1,000+ H-1Bs last year — Amazon, Infosys, TCS, Cognizant, Google, Microsoft — because they have the budget to handle the new fee when they really want someone.
• Get your degree evaluated early (WES for the US, UK NARIC/ECCTIS for the UK).
• Start preparing IELTS or OET if you’re eyeing the UK route (B1 currently required; B2 likely coming in 2026).

Final Thoughts

2025 hasn’t killed skilled migration — it has simply raised the bar and the price tag. The US is still reachable if you already have a foot in the door or work for a company that values you enough to pay the new fee.

The UK, meanwhile, has quietly become one of the most predictable and cap-free options for degree-qualified tech professionals.

Whichever path you choose, start planning now. Visa rules rarely get easier — they only change.

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