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.
The average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the United States in 2024 stood at 98%, slightly higher than 2023's 97.3%. Locally, employers across all industries located within the South Pima News publication area submitted 41 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 95.1%.
The Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings in the South Pima News publication area during 2024, with 26 petitions (63.4% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 96.2%.
The South Pima News publication area employers with the most petitions categorized under the Educational Services sector during 2024 included Sunnyside Unified School District, which filed nine petitions with an approval rate of 88.9%, Tucson Unified School District with five petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and Indian Oasis - Baboquivari Unified, which filed four petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Educational Services sector in the South Pima News publication area saw an 18.2% increase 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 | 26 | 63.4% | 96.2% | 3.8% |
| 2 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 12.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 5 | 12.2% | 80% | 20% |
| 4 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 4.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Construction | 2 | 4.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 2.4% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industries | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyside Unified School District | Educational Services | 9 | 88.9% | 11.1% |
| Tucson Unified School District | Educational Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Indian Oasis - Baboquivari Unified | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Modular Mining Systems, Inc. | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 75% | 25% |
| Ajo Unified School District | Educational Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Asarco, LLC | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Vail Unified School District | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Ampcera, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Tohono Oodham Community College | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sunnyside Unified School District 12 | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sonoita Elementary School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Midvale Park Dental Partners, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| J B Steel | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Davis Selected Advisers NY, Inc. | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Cis Global, LLC | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Asavet Veterinary Charities | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ajo Community Health Center D B a | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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