236,000

Number of applications for H-1B visas during the 2016 federal fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2015 to Sept. 30, 2016), according to the federal government. President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week to look into addressing perceived abuse of the H-1B skilled worker visa program by IT outsourcing firms. "Right now, H-1B visas are awarded in a totally random lottery. And that's wrong," Trump said. "Instead, they should be given to the most skilled and highest-paid applicants." Trump said widespread abuse of programs such as the H-1B has resulted in American employees of all backgrounds being replaced by workers brought in from other countries for less pay. (Click here to take this week's poll on ITBestOfBreed.com about the H-1B program.)