US labour department filings show that Microsoft has put in 14,181 visa applications in the second quarter of FY2025. Microsoft has consistently said that the US does not issue enough H-1B visas to meet labour market demands. The company faces increasing criticism over its H-1B visa filings, with scrutiny linking foreign hiring plans to recent job cuts in the United States. Microsoft announced global layoffs impacting 9,000 employees while expanding international investments, including a $3 billion commitment in India and plans to train 10 million people in AI skills. Around 82% of visa applicants reportedly received wages below the local US market average, raising concerns about the company's labour strategy. Microsoft's lobbying blog highlights the limited availability of H-1B visas compared to the high demand.