Ur Mendoza Jaddou, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (left) and Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director. | https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/organization/leadership
Ur Mendoza Jaddou, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (left) and Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director. | https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/organization/leadership
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 Waco Reporter publication area submitted 68 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 97.1%.
While the Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings with 42 petitions, representing 61.8% of all submissions in the Waco Reporter publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, which accounted for 10 petitions and represented 14.7% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, all were approved.
Compared to 2023, the Manufacturing sector in the Waco Reporter publication area saw an unchanged 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 | 42 | 61.8% | 97.6% | 2.4% |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 10 | 14.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 9 | 13.2% | 88.9% | 11.1% |
| 4 | Manufacturing | 4 | 5.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 1.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Accommodation and Food Services | 1 | 1.5% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor University | Educational Services | 20 | 100% | 0% |
| Tyler Independent School District | Educational Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Wichita Falls Independent School D | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Marble Falls Independent School Di | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Midwestern State University | Educational Services | 3 | 66.7% | 33.3% |
| Kunduru Dental, PLLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Logos Globaltech, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Hill College | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Jaynes Reitmeier Boyd & Therrell, PC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| LA Magna Health, PLLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Secord and Lebow Architects, LLP | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Stride Hospitality, LLC | Accommodation and Food Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Time Manufacturing Company, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| UT Health East Texas | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Vantran Industries, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% | |
| Waco Bottling, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Waco Independent School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Waco Kids Dental, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Wichita Falls Independent School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Scott and White Clinic | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Scott & White Clinic | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Providence Health Alliance | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Marble Falls Independent School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Gollob Morgan Peddy, PC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Freemon Shapard and Story | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Collier Materials, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Center for Particle Therapy and Research, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Cameron Electronics | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Anderton Castings, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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