Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services | https://medium.com/the-u-s-digital-service/meet-the-dhs-digital-service-champions-may-2018-caee7dade2b
Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services | https://medium.com/the-u-s-digital-service/meet-the-dhs-digital-service-champions-may-2018-caee7dade2b
Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. It is designed to address skill gaps in the U.S. workforce while ensuring wage standards to protect both U.S. and H-1B workers. Employers must certify that they will pay H-1B workers wages equal to or greater than those of similarly qualified U.S. employees or the prevailing local wage.
In 2024, the average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the United States stood at 98%, slightly higher than 2023's 97.3%.
The Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings locally during 2024, with 50 petitions (65.8% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 98%. Meanwhile, the Health Care and Social Assistance industry was the second largest contributor, filing 20 petitions (26.3% of the total), with an approval rate of 100%.
In 2024, the West RGV News publication area employer with the most petitions was The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, which filed 49 petitions with an approval rate of 98%.
Compared to 2023, the West RGV News publication area saw an 8.4% decrease in the number of H-1B petitions during 2024.
The United States admits around 1 million legal immigrants annually, most of whom receive permanent residence (green cards) through family sponsorship or employment-based visas. In 2023, about 1.2 million immigrants were granted green cards, a return to pre-pandemic levels. Temporary visa programs, such as the H-1B for highly skilled workers and H-2A for seasonal agricultural workers, also play a critical role in filling workforce needs.
Public opinion on immigration varies, with 46% of Americans favoring maintaining current legal immigration levels, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey. Additionally, 42% believe that highly skilled workers, such as scientists, doctors, and programmers, should be prioritized for legal immigration, compared to 25% who prioritize workers filling labor shortages and 19% who emphasize family sponsorship. Despite this, family sponsorship remains the most common path to permanent residency, accounting for 63% of green cards issued in 2023.
The data in this article comes from the H-1B Employer Data Hub provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). While USCIS strives for accuracy, manual data entry and errors on paper forms submitted by applicants or petitioners may result in discrepancies in employer names, tax IDs, locations, or other details.
| Rank | Industry | Total Petitions | % of All Submissions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Educational Services | 50 | 65.8% | 98% | 2% |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 20 | 26.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 2.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 1.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 1.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Information | 1 | 1.3% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry(ies) | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Educational Services | 49 | 98% | 2% |
| Renaissance Medical Foundation | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Renaissance Hospitalists | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Performance Therapeutics - Corpora | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Aptus Health Care, PLLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Shalom Media USA, Inc. | Information | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Rio Grande Valley Adult and Internal Medicine Specialists PA | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Renaissance Surgery Group | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Divine Children, Inc. | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Idea Public Schools | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Renaissance Gastroenterology | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Renaissance Endocrinology | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Renaissance Cardiology Group | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Pharr San Juan Alamo ISD | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Jem-D International Michigan, Inc. | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Pena Legacy Consulting, PLLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Palmer Steel Supplies, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Padmini Bhadriraju P a, M.D. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ophthalmic Consultants of Texas PA | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Mcallen Hospitalist Group D B, PLLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Mcallen Community Healthcare, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Knapp Medical Center a Non Profit Texas Corporation | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
Alerts Sign-up