Ur Mendoza Jaddou, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. | https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/organization/leadership/ur-m-jaddou-director-us-citizenship-and-immigration-services
Ur Mendoza Jaddou, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. | https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/organization/leadership/ur-m-jaddou-director-us-citizenship-and-immigration-services
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 SC Mississippi News publication area submitted 55 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 98.2%.
The Finance and Insurance industry led the H-1B filings in the SC Mississippi News publication area during 2024, with 22 petitions (40% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 100%. Meanwhile, the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry was the second largest contributor, filing 15 petitions (27.3% of the total), with an approval rate of 93.3%.
Among local employers with petitions categorized under the Finance and Insurance sector during 2024, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Miss stood out with 21 petitions and an approval rate of 100%, followed by Tower Loan of Mississippi, LLC with one petition and an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Finance and Insurance sector in the SC Mississippi News publication area saw a 144.4% 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 | Finance and Insurance | 22 | 40% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 15 | 27.3% | 93.3% | 6.7% |
| 3 | Utilities | 3 | 5.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Information | 2 | 3.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Wholesale Trade | 2 | 3.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Accommodation and Food Services | 2 | 3.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Educational Services | 2 | 3.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Retail Trade | 2 | 3.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1 | 1.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1 | 1.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Construction | 1 | 1.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 1.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Manufacturing | 1 | 1.8% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Miss | Finance and Insurance | 21 | 100% | 0% |
| Phasorsoft Group, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Entergy Operations, Inc. | Utilities | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Teknowit, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Horne, LLP | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Cellular South, Inc. | Information | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Varahi, Inc. | Retail Trade | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Tougaloo College | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Southern Hospitality Services, LLC | Accommodation and Food Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Vergent LMS | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Tower Loan of Mississippi, LLC | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Solar Group, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Software Consulting Services, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Skyhawke Technologies, LLC | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Phasorgrid, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Madison Services, Inc. | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Kerioth Corporation | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Harper Rains Knight and Company P | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ergon, Inc. | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Davis Aviation, Inc. | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Club Holdings I, LLC | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ali and Associates PA | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
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