12 EARLIEST H-1B VISA GAINERS

Applications for US H-1B visas, the most sought after by Indian professionals for
working in America, recently reached the Congressional-mandated cap of 65,000
for the current fiscal.
The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa in the US which allows American companies to
temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations.
Here are the top 12 earliest gainers of the visa programme according.
Infosys Technologies LtdTopping the list is the country's IT bellwether Infosys Technologies Ltd. According
to US Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) data, the company bagged
3792 H-1B visas. Country's second-biggest IT company, Infosys Technologies,
recently reported lower-than-expected third quarter earnings due to wage costs,
currency fluctuations and sluggish European economic growth.
However, Infosys revised its revenue guidance for the year upwards, as it hopes
that customers will give more outsourcing orders after the Christmas vacation.
Since April 2010, Infosys has revised its revenue guidance every financial
quarter.
Cognizant Tech Solutions CorpAt no. 2 on the list is Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp with 3388 H-1B visas in the
kitty. Cognizant, which posted revenue of $1.31 billion for the fourth quarter,
forecast a 26 percent revenue growth for 2011. This brings the company in
touching distance of Wipro, India's No. 3 software services exporter.
Microsoft CorpSoftware giant Microsoft Corp ranks at no. 3 on the list. The company has bagged
1618 visas. The Redmond-based company has been among the biggest
supporters of the visa programme.
Last week, the company announced a strategic partnership with cell phone giant
Nokia. The deal gives Microsoft access to one of the world’s largest mobile-phone
distribution networks.
Wipro LtdAt no. 4 on the USCIS list is Bangalore-based Wipro. The company bagged 1521
visas in 2010. India's third-largest software company has been growing at a
slower pace compared to its peers Infosys, TCS and Cognizant.
The company recently announced that its IT business will now be driven by six
new business units and it would have eight key functions in finance and accounts,
human resources, strategic marketing, CIO and operations, mission quality,
strategy and M&A, legal and risk compliance.
IBM India Pvt LtdIBM India Pvt Ltd ranks at no. 5 on the list with 882 visas. The company is among
one of the biggest IT employers in the country.
IBM does not break out country-level employee numbers, but company insiders
and experts tracking IBM said it employs nearly 1,28,000 staff in India.
Accenture Technology SolutionsIT consulting firm Accenture Technology Solutions is next in line with 506 visas.
Accenture India recently appointed Avinash with global revenues of nearly $24
billion, Accenture, the world’s second-biggest tech consulting firm, has lagged
global rivals such as IBM in over $20 billion Indian market.
Larsen & Toubro Infotech LtdNext on the list is the technology arm of Indian engineering giant Larsen &
Toubro. Larsen & Toubro Infotech Ltd ranks at no. 7 with 333 visas.
Speculations are rife that Larsen & Toubro may sell stake in Larsen & Toubro
Infotech. L&T Infotech employs over 12,000 people and offers end-to-end
software solutions and services to banking and financial services, energy,
manufacturing, product engineering services and healthcare verticals.
It earns 30% of revenues from manufacturing verticals and is relatively less
exposed to banking, finance and insurance verticals.
Satyam Computer ServicesSatyam Computer Services, now called Mahindra Satyam, ranks at no. 8 with 224
visas. Mahindra Satyam has reported an over two-fold sequential jump in
consolidated net profit for the quarter ended December 31, 2010, to Rs 58.9
crore.
The company had 217 clients at the end of December 31, 2010. Its consolidated
cash and cash-equivalent reserves stood at Rs 3,048 crore for the reporting
quarter.
Mphasis CorpHewlett-Packard's outsourcing company Mphasis Corp ranks next in line with 197
visas.
Deloitte Consulting LLPAt no. 10 on the list is Deloitte Consulting LLP with 196 visas.
Google IncAnother H-1B visa proponent Google Inc is the eleventh biggest beneficiary of H-
1B visa. The company reportedly has recieved 172 H-1B visas.
Patni America IncAt no. 12 is Patni America with 164 H-1B visas. US-based iGate recently took
majority stake in Patni Computer Systems.