06/04/2026
90% of H-1B visas in the last decade went to workers from just 2 countries.
That stat alone tells you everything about how concentrated and how fragile the U.S. tech talent pipeline really is.
Robert Bouchard knows this world better than almost anyone. As "The H1B Guy" and Chief Digital Officer at Tier 4 Group, he's spent years cutting through the politics and explaining what high-skilled immigration actually means for U.S. companies trying to hire.
He joined Brian Samson on the Nearshore Cafe Podcast to break down what's happening right now:
→ The 2025 H-1B lottery saw selection rates jump above 30% but Level 4 earners are being selected at 60%+
→ The green card backlog is trapping workers in 10–12 year limbo
→ Talent that can't get a visa is heading to Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica and not coming back
If you're a founder or engineering leader trying to build a technical team in this environment, this episode is required listening.
Watch now: https://youtu.be/w5LBD94sXs4