Ted H. Kim, Associate Director Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate for USCIS | https://www.naco.org/
Ted H. Kim, Associate Director Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate for USCIS | https://www.naco.org/
This represents an approval rate of 80%, 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 South Dakota across all industries submitted 910 petitions during the same period, with an approval rate of 97%.
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 South Dakota News publication area during 2024, filing a total of 20 petitions (50% of all submissions) and receiving 19 approvals, resulting in an approval rate of 95%. The Health Care and Social Assistance industry followed, with 18 petitions (45% of all submissions) and an approval rate of 61.1%.
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 Monument Health Rapid City Hospital, Inc. with 16 petitions and 56.3% of them approved, South Dakota State University with 14 petitions and all of them approved, and Mclaughlin School District 15-2 with three petitions filed and an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, South Dakota saw a 77.8% 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 | 20 | 50% | 95% | 5% |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 18 | 45% | 61.1% | 38.9% |
| 3 | Public Administration | 2 | 5% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monument Health Rapid City Hospital, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 16 | 56.3% | 43.8% |
| South Dakota State University | Educational Services | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| Mclaughlin School District 15-2 | Educational Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Philip Health Services, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Bison School District 52-1 | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe | Public Administration | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| City of Rapid City | Public Administration | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Eagle Butte School District 20 1 | Educational Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Lemmon School District 52 4 | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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