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 SW Colorado News publication area submitted 20 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 100%.
While the Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings with 12 petitions, representing 60% of all submissions in the SW Colorado News publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, which accounted for three petitions and represented 15% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, all were approved.
The SW Colorado News publication area employers with the most petitions categorized under the Educational Services sector during 2024 included Fort Lewis College, which filed six petitions with an approval rate of 100%, Telluride School District R-1 with three petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and Adams State University, which filed two petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Educational Services sector in the SW Colorado News publication area saw a 100% 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 | 12 | 60% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 15% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Manufacturing | 2 | 10% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1 | 5% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lewis College | Educational Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Telluride School District R-1 | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Adams State University | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Montezuma Cortez School District | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Agile Space Industries, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Colosseum Rare Metals, Inc. | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ledgetech D B a Rocky Talkie, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| LHCG Lvii, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Lutheran Hospital Association of T | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Valley-Wide Health Systems, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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