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/
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 Upper West SC News publication area submitted 51 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 96.1%.
While the Manufacturing industry led the H-1B filings with 26 petitions, representing 51% of all submissions in the Upper West SC News publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Educational Services industry, which accounted for 14 petitions and represented 27.5% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Educational Services industry, 92.9% were approved and 7.1% were denied.
The Upper West SC News publication area employers with the most petitions categorized under the Manufacturing sector during 2024 included Es Foundry, Corp., which filed 11 petitions with an approval rate of 90.9%, ZF Transmissions Gray Court, LLC with 10 petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and Pierburg US, LLC, which filed two petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Manufacturing sector in the Upper West SC News publication area saw a 225% 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 | Manufacturing | 26 | 51% | 96.2% | 3.8% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 14 | 27.5% | 92.9% | 7.1% |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 9.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 5.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Wholesale Trade | 2 | 3.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1 | 2% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Es Foundry, Corp. | Manufacturing | 11 | 90.9% | 9.1% |
| ZF Transmissions Gray Court, LLC | Manufacturing | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Laurens County School District 55 | Educational Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Self Regional Healthcare | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Newberry College | Educational Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Greenwood Genetic Center, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Lander University | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Pierburg US, LLC | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Greenwood Genetics Center, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Industrial Packaging Supplies, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Fibertex Nonwovens, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Erskine College | Educational Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Presbyterian College | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Samsung Electronics Home Appliance | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Samsung Electronics Home Appliances America, LLC | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Digestive Disease Group P a | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The Rose Center for Forensic Sciences | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Twin City Smile, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Xhome Group, Inc. | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| American Starlinger Sahm, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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