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 South Galveston News publication area submitted 80 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 97.5%.
The Manufacturing industry led the H-1B filings in the South Galveston News publication area during 2024, with 26 petitions (32.5% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 96.2%. Meanwhile, the Educational Services industry was the second largest contributor, filing 22 petitions (27.5% 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 South Galveston 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 | Manufacturing | 26 | 32.5% | 96.2% | 3.8% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 22 | 27.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 11 | 13.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Finance and Insurance | 10 | 12.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 10 | 12.5% | 90% | 10% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas Medical BR | Educational Services | 20 | 100% | 0% |
| Proctek Texas, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| JSW Steel USA, Inc. | Manufacturing | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Jindal Saw USA, LLC | Manufacturing | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| American National Group Services L | Finance and Insurance | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Jindal Pipe USA, Inc. | Manufacturing | 5 | 80% | 20% |
| American National Insurance Company | Finance and Insurance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Borusan Pipe U S, Inc. | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Armstrong Medical Group | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Clear Lake Montessori School D, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| The Devereux Foundation | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 50% | 50% |
| Dunn Heat Exchangers, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ej Reynolds Company | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| EM2 Management Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Focus, Inc. | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Cuero Regional Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Community Health Network | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Jupeng Bio, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| KS2 Dental, PLLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| National Field Services | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Nederland Smiles, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Talke USA, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Clear Creek Independent School Dis | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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