Ur Mendoza Jaddou, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (left) and Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director. | https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/organization/leadership
Ur Mendoza Jaddou, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (left) and Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director. | https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/organization/leadership
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 SW Oklahoma News publication area submitted 26 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 96.2%.
While the Health Care and Social Assistance industry led the H-1B filings with 19 petitions, representing 73.1% of all submissions in the SW Oklahoma News publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry, which accounted for three petitions and represented 11.5% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry, all were approved.
Among local employers with petitions categorized under the Health Care and Social Assistance sector during 2024, Comanche County Hospital Authority stood out with 12 petitions and an approval rate of 91.7%, followed by Jackson County Memorial Hospital Authority with three petitions and an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Health Care and Social Assistance sector in the SW Oklahoma News publication area saw a 13.6% 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 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 19 | 73.1% | 94.7% | 5.3% |
| 2 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 11.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Educational Services | 2 | 7.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1 | 3.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 3.8% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comanche County Hospital Authority | Health Care and Social Assistance | 14 | 92.9% | 7.1% |
| Jackson County Memorial Hospital Authority | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Clinton Hospital Authority | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State Univer | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| City of Lawton, a Municipal Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| ERP Analysts, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Flex Chem Corporation | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Openfusion, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Premium Aerospace Center Oklahoma | Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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