Oracle employees received termination emails this week as the company simultaneously filed hundreds of H-1B visa petitions to hire foreign workers. The contradiction exposes a widening gap between tech layoffs and continued foreign hiring that's sparking employee backlash.
The database giant filed approximately 3,126 H-1B petitions across fiscal years 2025 and 2026, including 436 petitions in 2026 alone. Oracle informed thousands of employees globally that Tuesday would be their last working day through emails sent by "Oracle Leadership," according to copies reviewed by Business Insider.
Amazon followed a similar pattern with approximately 2,675 H-1B petitions filed over the same two-year period. This came after the company announced 16,000 corporate job cuts in January, following an earlier October round that eliminated 14,000 roles.
Employee frustration erupted on professional forums where one user described Oracle's H-1B filings as "a slap in our face" following the layoffs. Another commenter noted broader industry patterns: "Look at all big tech companies. They do massive layoffs then rehire at lower salary."
H-1B visa filings at major tech companies fell sharply late last year as layoffs mounted and new visa restrictions took hold. Department of Labor data shows Amazon's certified applications dropped from 4,647 in Q1 2025 to 3,057 in Q1 2026.
Meta and Google saw their certified applications drop by roughly half year-over-year. The decline follows Trump administration rules that tilt the lottery toward highest-paid applicants and place a $100,000 fee on new petitions for workers living abroad. The government said these moves aim to curb fraud and encourage employers to hire Americans.
Nvidia bucked the trend with H-B filings increasing from 369 in Q Q to Q Q. CEO Jensen Huang has said Nvidia will keep hiring immigrants despite the new fees.
About 52,050 tech employees lost their jobs in the first three months of 2026, marking a 40 percent increase compared to the same period last year according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The firm noted that growing AI adoption is emerging as a key factor behind these reductions.
Meta signaled plans for significant layoffs in March with reports indicating around 20 percent of its workforce, roughly 15,000 employees, could be affected according to Reuters.
Companies file H-B petitions seeking approval from the U.S. government to hire foreign professionals, typically arguing they cannot find local candidates with required skills.
Employers often describe the visa program as critical for staying competitive in advanced technology fields while critics contend it puts American workers at a disadvantage.
These filings are not always for new hires. Companies may also submit petitions to renew or extend existing H-B visas.
"I think companies are being more selective in who they sponsor," said Jason Finkelman, a Texas lawyer who focuses on employment and family immigration.
