Tammy Meckley, Associate Director, Immigration Records and Identity Services Directorate for USCIS | https://www.dhswatchlist.com/
Tammy Meckley, Associate Director, Immigration Records and Identity Services Directorate for USCIS | https://www.dhswatchlist.com/
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 Columbia News publication area submitted 34 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 94.1%.
The Finance and Insurance industry led the H-1B filings in the Columbia News publication area during 2024, with nine petitions (26.5% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 100%. Meanwhile, the Educational Services industry was the second largest contributor, filing eight petitions (23.5% of the total), with an approval rate of 87.5%.
Compared to 2023, the Health Care and Social Assistance sector in the Columbia 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 | Finance and Insurance | 9 | 26.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 8 | 23.5% | 87.5% | 12.5% |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 17.6% | 83.3% | 16.7% |
| 4 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 14.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 2.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Retail Trade | 1 | 2.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 2.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Manufacturing | 1 | 2.9% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veterans United Home Loans | Finance and Insurance | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Eurofins Biopharma Product Testing | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Missouri Military Academy | Educational Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| The Curators of the University of Missouri | Educational Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Boone Physician Services, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Dliflc | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Woodhaven Learning Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Academy, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Broad Building Supply Company | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| GRD Enterprises, LLC | Retail Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Guardian Labs, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Heart of Missouri United Way, Inc. | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Independent Stave Company, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| LA Petite Ecole, Inc. | Educational Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Propartners Team, LLC | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The Curators of the Un of Missouri | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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