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.
In 2024, the average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the United States stood at 98%, slightly higher than 2023's 97.3%.
The Health Care and Social Assistance industry led the H-1B filings locally during 2024, with 148 petitions (64.6% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 98.6%. Meanwhile, the Retail Trade industry was the second largest contributor, filing 37 petitions (16.2% of the total), with an approval rate of 100%.
The Knox Times publication area employers with the most petitions during 2024 included Pilot Travel Centers, LLC, which filed 38 petitions with an approval rate of 100%, Hospital Physician Services Southeast, PC with 28 petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and Southeastern Physician Services, PC, which filed 19 petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Knox Times publication area saw a 15.1% 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 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 148 | 64.6% | 98.6% | 1.4% |
| 2 | Retail Trade | 37 | 16.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 22 | 9.6% | 95.5% | 4.5% |
| 4 | Information | 6 | 2.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Finance and Insurance | 4 | 1.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Manufacturing | 4 | 1.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 2 | 0.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Educational Services | 1 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Public Administration | 1 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Accommodation and Food Services | 1 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry(ies) | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot Travel Centers, LLC | Retail Trade, Other Services (except Public Administration) | 38 | 100% | 0% |
| Hospital Physician Services Southeast, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 28 | 100% | 0% |
| Southeastern Physician Services, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 19 | 100% | 0% |
| Southeastern Intensivist Services, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| Verana Health, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| Hospital Medicine Associates, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| Cloud Data, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Lonestar Hospital Medicine Associates P a | Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 83.3% | 16.7% |
| America S Collectibles Network, Inc. | Information | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Southeastern Hospitalist Services, P C | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 80% | 20% |
| Newstat, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| IPC Hospitalists of New England | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 21ST Mortgage Corporation | Finance and Insurance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| St. John Emergency Services, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Ameriteam Services, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Functional Pathways of TN, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Mindful Technician Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 66.7% | 33.3% |
| Kansas Hospitalist Services P a | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Inpatient Consultants of Delaware, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Hospitalist Physicians of Massachusetts, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Quantum Emergency Physicians P a | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Buffalo Emergency Associates, LLP | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Pennsylvania HM Associates, P C | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Mlily USA, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Inpatient Consultants of Tennessee, P C | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Emergency Coverage Services, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Hospitalist Physicians of Indiana, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| East Tennessee Children S Hospital, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Fremont Emergency Services Scherr, Ltd. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Hospital Physician Services of Florida P a | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| ECC Hospitalist Service, P C | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Hospital Medicine Services of Maine, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Online Development, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Orthopaedic Innovation Technology Center, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Palmetto Anesthesia Specialists LL | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Henderson and Ross Fitness, LLC | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Helen Ross Mcnabb Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Scripps Networks, LLC | Information | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Shades Unlimited, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Smart Hospitality, LLC | Accommodation and Food Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Southeastern Emergency Services, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Arsenal Strength, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| After Hours Pediatrics of Tennesse | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Exigence Medical of New York, PLLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The H T Hackney Company | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| NW Hospitalist Services, P C | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Northwest Physician Associates, P C | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Northeast Florida Hospitalist, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Cherokee Health Systems | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Hospital Medicine Services of Tennessee, P C | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Massachusetts Acute Care Specialists, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Covenant Medical Group, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Knoxville-Knox County Planning | Public Administration | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Knoxville HMA Cardiology PPM, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Knoxville Catholic High School | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Dental Implant Center, PLLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Inpatient Consultants of Kansas P a | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Inpatient Consultants of Illinois, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Inpatient Consultants of Florida, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Inpatient Consultants of Alabama, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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