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
This represents an approval rate of 93.5%, which is lower than the nationwide average.
That year, the average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the U.S. stood at 98%, slightly higher than the 97.3% recorded in 2023. Statewide, employers in North Dakota across all industries submitted 264 petitions during the same period, with an approval rate of 95.5%.
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 Educational Services industry led H-1B petition approvals in the Western ND News publication area during 2024, filing a total of 33 petitions (71.7% of all submissions) and receiving 32 approvals, resulting in an approval rate of 97%. The Health Care and Social Assistance industry followed, with nine petitions (19.6% of all submissions) and an approval rate of 100%.
Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.
The employers that filed the most petitions in the area during 2024 included New Town Public School District 1 with 18 petitions and 94.4% of them approved, Three Affiliated Tribes Head Start with nine petitions and all of them approved, and Divide County School District and Mercy Medical Center with three petitions each.
Compared to 2023, North Dakota saw a 22.9% 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 | 33 | 71.7% | 97% | 3% |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 9 | 19.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Finance and Insurance | 2 | 4.3% | 0% | 100% |
| 4 | Construction | 1 | 2.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Accommodation and Food Services | 1 | 2.2% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Town Public School District 1 | Educational Services | 18 | 94.4% | 5.6% |
| Three Affiliated Tribes Head Start | Educational Services | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Divide County School District | Educational Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Mercy Medical Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| CHI St. Josephs Health | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Dakota West Credit Union | Finance and Insurance | 2 | 0% | 100% |
| Eight Mile School District #6 | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ion Field Services, LLC | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Mountrail Bethel Home | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| St. Luke S Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Tioga Medical Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Tioga Sunrise Hotel, LLC | Accommodation and Food Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Twin Buttes School District 37 | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| West River Health Services | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Williston State College | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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