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
For comparison, the nationwide average approval rate is 98%.
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 Southeast South Dakota News publication area during 2024, filing a total of four petitions (30.8% of all submissions) and receiving approvals for all of them. The Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry followed, with three petitions (23.1% 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 South Dakota State University with four petitions and all of them approved, Eagle Creek Software Services with three petitions and all of them approved, and Kolberg-Pioneer, Inc., Swift Technologies, Inc. and Thermo Bond Buildings, LLC with one petitions each, along with three other companies.
Compared to 2023, South Dakota saw a 13.3% decrease 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 | 4 | 30.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 23.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Manufacturing | 2 | 15.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 15.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 7.7% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota State University | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Eagle Creek Software Services | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Kolberg-Pioneer, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Swift Technologies, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Thermo Bond Buildings, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| United Way of Vermillion | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Wells Fargo Bank, N A | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Yankton Medical Clinic, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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