If you check the official government reports, you'll see it's actually the other way around. 2016 H-1Bs [1] - 398718 submitted with 53456 denied = 13% denial

If you check the official government reports, you'll see it's actually the other way around. 2016 H-1Bs [1] - 398718 submitted with 53456 denied = 13% denial rate 2017 H-1Bs [2] - 403675 submitted with 37993 denied = 9% denial rate So it looks like the denial rate has actually decreased. [1] https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/Reports%20and%20Studies/H-1B/h-1B-FY16.pdf https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/Re... [2] https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/nativedocuments/Characteristics_of_H-1B_Specialty_Occupation_Workers_FY17.pdf https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/nativedocume...