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/
This represents an approval rate of 95%, which is lower than the average in South Dakota across all industries.
That year, the statewide average approval rate for H-1B petitions stood at 97%, slightly lower than 2023's 99.1%. Across the publication area, employers across all industries submitted 40 petitions during the same period, with an approval rate of 80%.
For comparison, the U.S. reported an average approval rate of 98% in 2024.
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.
While the Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings with 20 petitions, representing 50% of all submissions in Western South Dakota News publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, which accounted for 18 petitions and represented 45% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, 61.1% were approved and 38.9% were denied.
South Dakota State University and Mclaughlin School District 15-2 with four other employers led the industry in the publication area with the highest approval rate of 100% each.
Compared to 2023, the Educational Services sector saw a 66.7% increase in the number of H-1B petitions across Western South Dakota News publication area 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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