TechRepublic , the large US tech companies apparently cannot meet their skilled labor needs domestically. This is at least suggested by the significant increase in H-1B visa applications last year. This special work permit allows US companies to employ specially qualified foreign workers. The development is particularly clear using the example of Amazon. The company's number of approved H-1B visa applications increased 78 percent to 2,515 in 2017. Facebook (+53 percent), Google (+31 percent) and Microsoft (+29 percent) have also significantly increased their recruiting efforts abroad.