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
This represents an approval rate of 94.1%, which is lower than the average in Minnesota across all industries.
That year, the statewide average approval rate for H-1B petitions stood at 98.6%, the same as in the previous year. Across the publication area, employers across all industries submitted 42 petitions during the same period, with an approval rate of 92.9%.
For comparison, the U.S. reported an average approval rate of 98% in 2024.
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.
While the Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings with 17 petitions, representing 40.5% of all submissions in St. Cloud Sun publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, which accounted for 15 petitions and represented 35.7% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, 86.7% were approved and 13.3% were denied.
The employers in the Educational Services sector in St. Cloud Sun publication area included District 742 Community Schools with eight petitions, Minnesota State University Mankato, and Saint John'S University with two petitions each during 2024.
District 742 Community Schools and Minnesota State University Mankato with four other employers led the industry in the publication area with the highest approval rate of 100% each.
Compared to 2023, the Educational Services sector saw a 19% decrease in the number of H-1B petitions across St. Cloud Sun publication area 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 | 17 | 40.5% | 94.1% | 5.9% |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 15 | 35.7% | 86.7% | 13.3% |
| 3 | Manufacturing | 7 | 16.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Information | 1 | 2.4% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District 742 Community Schools | Educational Services | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Saint John'S University | Educational Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Centracare Clinic | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| T O Plastics, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Centracare Clinic Southwest, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Centracare Health System | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Minnesota State University Mankato | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Integrated Care Service, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 0% | 100% |
| The Wells Companies | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Stride Academy | Educational Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Princeton One Stop, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% | |
| Nativex, LLC | Information | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Microbiologics, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Eye-Kraft Optical, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Dezurik, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| DCI, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| College of Saint Benedict | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Centracare Health Sys NR, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Centracare Health Sytem Melrose | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Centracare Health System Sauk Cent | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Centracare Health System Long Prairie | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Carris Health - Redwood, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Athlos Academy of St. Cloud | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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