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 Baton Rouge Reporter publication area submitted 217 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 99.5%.
The Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings in the Baton Rouge Reporter publication area during 2024, with 95 petitions (43.8% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 98.9%. Meanwhile, the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry was the second largest contributor, filing 36 petitions (16.6% of the total), with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Wholesale Trade sector in the Baton Rouge Reporter publication area saw an 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 | Educational Services | 95 | 43.8% | 98.9% | 1.1% |
| 2 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 36 | 16.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Finance and Insurance | 34 | 15.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 32 | 14.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Public Administration | 8 | 3.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Manufacturing | 4 | 1.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Wholesale Trade | 2 | 0.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Construction | 2 | 0.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1 | 0.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Information | 1 | 0.5% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industries | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana State University and a a | Information, Educational Services | 83 | 98.8% | 1.2% |
| Republic Finance, LLC | Finance and Insurance | 28 | 100% | 0% |
| Amedisys Holding, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| Cipherqore Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lad | Health Care and Social Assistance | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| East Baton Rouge Parish School System | Educational Services | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| The Baton Rouge Clinic AMC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Louisiana Department of Education | Public Administration | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Louisiana Health Service and Indem | Finance and Insurance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Emergent Talent, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Aptim Environmental & Infrastructure, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Landmark Management Services, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Louisiana State University and a&M College | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| The Water Institute of the Gulf | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| MMR Constructors, Inc. | Construction, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries | Public Administration | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| LSU Agricultural Center | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Louisiana Board of Regents | Public Administration | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| NHS US, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Pelican Educational Foundation, Inc. | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Performance Contractors, Inc. | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Plexos Group, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ramlak, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Shintech Louisiana, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Southern Microbiological Services, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sparkhound, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sustainable Design Solutions | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The Pangburn Group, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Timaven, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 4th Sector Solutions, Inc. | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Alfalfa Nail Supply, Inc. | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| APS Engineering and Testing, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Aptim Environmental and Infrastruc | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Baton Rouge Neonatal Associates, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Baton Rouge Soccer Association | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Bonton Associates, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Bris Engineering, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Capital Region Planning Commission | Public Administration | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Capitol City Family Health Center, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Champion Technology Services, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Code Willing, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Cora Texas Manufacturing Company L | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| CSRS, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Efcu Financial Federal Credit Unio | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Engineers and Constructors Interna | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Episcopal High School of Baton Rouge | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Formosa Plastics Corporation Louis | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Fox-Nesbit Engineering, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| G E C, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| General Health System | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| H&e Equipment Services, Inc. | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ligatrap Technologies, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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