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 North Houston News publication area submitted 59 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 100%.
The Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings in the North Houston News publication area during 2024, with 23 petitions (39% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 100%. Meanwhile, the Finance and Insurance industry was the second largest contributor, filing 10 petitions (16.9% of the total), with an approval rate of 100%.
Among local employers with petitions categorized under the Finance and Insurance sector during 2024, American National Group Services L stood out with six petitions and an approval rate of 100%, followed by American National Insurance Company with four petitions and an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Finance and Insurance sector in the North Houston News publication area saw a 16.7% 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 | 23 | 39% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Finance and Insurance | 10 | 16.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 8 | 13.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Manufacturing | 6 | 10.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 8.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Construction | 3 | 5.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Wholesale Trade | 2 | 3.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 1.7% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Houston State University | Educational Services | 16 | 100% | 0% |
| American National Group Services L | Finance and Insurance | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Cleveland Independent School Distr | Educational Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| American National Insurance Company | Finance and Insurance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Pravastech, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Huxted Trenchless, LLC | Construction | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Data Fabric Solutions, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Scurry County Hospital District D | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Scurry County Hospital District | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sepco Process Company | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Royal Equipment, Inc. | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Rival 4X4 USA, Inc. | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Spear Point Engineering, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Red Willow Advisors, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| TRI County Behavioral Healthcare | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| North Water District Laboratory Services, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| MBA Energy & Industrial, LLC | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Lyrba USA, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| I Spark Change, LLC | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Hvac Manufacturing, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Hertha Metals, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Geriatric and Palliative Care Association | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Emergency Hospital Systems, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Conroe Independent School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Cleveland Independent School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Bleyl Interests, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Biomerics FMI, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Anderton Castings, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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