However, Nigerian recipients represented just 0.4 per cent of the 219,813 H-1B visas issued globally in FY 2024. Only 1.5 per cent of all H-1B visas were issued to Africans for the Fiscal Year under review. The H-1B visa programme was established under the Immigration Act of 1990, signed into law by President George H.W. The US Congress initially set an annual cap of 65,000 H-1B visas, with an additional 20,000 reserved for applicants holding master’s degrees or higher from US institutions. The fee applies to employers sponsoring workers who are outside the United States and do not hold valid H-1B visas.

Source: Punch February 01, 2026 11:00 UTC