Visa vs Mastercard H1B Sponsorship: 2025 Comparison
Visa and Mastercard are two of the largest H1B sponsors in financial technology, collectively filing over 1,700 LCA applications per year. Both companies aggressively recruit software engineers, data scientists, and cybersecurity professionals on H1B visas. This comparison breaks down their programs across every key dimension.
H1B Sponsorship Comparison: Visa vs Mastercard
| Metric | Visa | Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Annual H1B LCA Filings | 900+ | 800+ |
| H1B Approval Rate | ~93% | ~93% |
| Median H1B Base Salary | $168,000 | $162,000 |
| Premium Processing | Yes | Yes |
| Green Card Sponsorship | Yes | Yes |
| HQ Location | Foster City, CA / San Francisco | Purchase, NY / New York |
| Top Sponsored Roles | SWE, Data Scientist, Security Engineer | SWE, ML Engineer, Product Manager |
| Global Mobility | Strong — 200+ countries | Strong — 210+ countries |
| RFE Rate (est.) | ~7% | ~7% |
| H1B Transfers Accepted | Yes | Yes |
Visa H1B Sponsorship
Visa Inc. sponsors over 900 H1B applications annually, primarily at its Foster City headquarters, San Francisco office, and Austin technology center. Visa's technology transformation under Chief Technology Officer Rajat Taneja has dramatically increased engineering hiring. Software engineers, data scientists, and cybersecurity engineers dominate Visa's H1B filings. Median base salary is $168,000, with staff engineers earning $200,000+. Visa pays premium processing on all petitions and has dedicated immigration specialists in HR.
Mastercard H1B Sponsorship
Mastercard sponsors approximately 800 H1B applications per year, primarily from its Purchase, New York headquarters and O'Fallon, Missouri technology campus. Mastercard has been expanding its engineering workforce rapidly, particularly in ML and AI for fraud detection. ML engineers, software engineers, and product managers are the most sponsored roles. Median base salary on H1B is $162,000. Mastercard offers strong international transfer opportunities given its presence in 210+ countries.
Verdict
Visa and Mastercard are near-identical H1B sponsors — same approval rates, comparable salaries, and equivalent immigration support. Visa pays slightly higher median wages and is California-headquartered (higher cost-of-living adjusted). Mastercard's Purchase, NY HQ appeals to candidates preferring the East Coast fintech ecosystem. Choose based on role fit, team, and geography rather than H1B program differences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Visa and Mastercard sponsor H1B for software engineers?
Yes. Both Visa and Mastercard are major H1B sponsors for software engineers, data scientists, ML engineers, and cybersecurity professionals. Engineering is the largest H1B category at both companies.
What is the H1B salary at Visa vs Mastercard?
Visa pays a median H1B base salary of approximately $168,000, while Mastercard is approximately $162,000. Senior staff engineers at both companies can earn $200,000+ in base, with total compensation including bonuses and RSUs reaching $300,000+.
Which is better for H1B green card sponsorship — Visa or Mastercard?
Both companies sponsor EB-2 PERM for H1B employees. The priority date backlog for India/China-born nationals applies equally at both companies. Neither has a program that accelerates the queue. Choose based on role and compensation rather than green card speed.
Do Visa or Mastercard hire H1B transfers?
Yes. Both companies accept H1B transfers from other employers. H1B portability allows employees to begin work at the new employer once the transfer petition is filed (not waiting for approval), making transitions smooth.
Are there other fintech companies that sponsor H1B besides Visa and Mastercard?
Yes. Stripe, Square (Block), PayPal, Fiserv, FIS, and American Express are also significant H1B sponsors in fintech. For quant finance, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Citadel file even more H1B petitions than Visa or Mastercard.