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 North Central PA Times publication area submitted 127 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 99.2%.
While the Health Care and Social Assistance industry led the H-1B filings with 109 petitions, representing 85.8% of all submissions in the North Central PA Times publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Educational Services industry, which accounted for 14 petitions and represented 11% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Educational Services industry, all were approved.
The North Central PA Times publication area employers with the most petitions categorized under the Health Care and Social Assistance sector during 2024 included Geisinger Clinic, which filed 46 petitions with an approval rate of 97.8%, Geisinger System Services with 21 petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and Geisinger Medical Center, which filed 16 petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Health Care and Social Assistance sector in the North Central PA Times publication area saw a 16% 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 | 109 | 85.8% | 99.1% | 0.9% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 14 | 11% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 0.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Manufacturing | 1 | 0.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Retail Trade | 1 | 0.8% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geisinger Clinic | Health Care and Social Assistance | 46 | 97.8% | 2.2% |
| Geisinger System Services | Health Care and Social Assistance | 21 | 100% | 0% |
| Geisinger Medical Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 16 | 100% | 0% |
| Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical C | Health Care and Social Assistance | 13 | 100% | 0% |
| Bucknell University | Educational Services | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| Geisinger Health Plan | Health Care and Social Assistance | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsyl | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Geisinger Commonwealth School of M | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Geisinger Community Medical Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Geisinger Lewistown Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Geisinger Medical Center Muncy | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Nexgen, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Susquehanna University | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| TPS, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Weis Markets, Inc. | Retail Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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