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 Fargo Standard publication area submitted 73 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 93.2%.
While the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led the H-1B filings with 38 petitions, representing 52.1% of all submissions in the Fargo Standard publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Manufacturing industry, which accounted for seven petitions and represented 9.6% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Manufacturing industry, all were approved.
Among local employers with petitions categorized under the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector during 2024, Infonero, Inc. stood out with 15 petitions and an approval rate of 86.7%, followed by Aldevron, LLC with eight petitions and an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector in the Fargo Standard publication area saw a 13.6% decrease 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 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 38 | 52.1% | 86.8% | 13.2% |
| 2 | Manufacturing | 7 | 9.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Educational Services | 6 | 8.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Wholesale Trade | 5 | 6.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 6.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Finance and Insurance | 4 | 5.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Information | 3 | 4.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 3 | 4.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1 | 1.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Construction | 1 | 1.4% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infonero, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 15 | 86.7% | 13.3% |
| Aldevron, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Border States Industries D B a, Inc. | Wholesale Trade | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Sheyenne Valley Special Education Unit | Educational Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 701X, Inc. | Information | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Noridian Healthcare Solutions | Finance and Insurance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Innovis Health, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Eide Bailly, LLP | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Doosan Bobcat North America, Inc. | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Doosan Digital Innovation America | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 66.7% | 33.3% |
| Prosource, LLC | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Lisbon Area Health Services | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Fargo Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 7cinfo Com, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 0% | 100% |
| Weather Modification, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Wanzek Construction, Inc. | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Valley City State University | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ulteig Engineers, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| RDO Equipment Company | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Aldevron Madison, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Allegiance Fundraising, LLC | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Lisbon Public School District 19 | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Boson Motors, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Lidgerwood Public School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Korber Pharma, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Bushel, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| CH Trade, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Choice Financial Group | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Elinor Coatings, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Dagger Machinery Formerly Know, Inc. | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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