Ted H. Kim, Associate Director Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate for USCIS | https://www.naco.org/
Ted H. Kim, Associate Director Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate for USCIS | https://www.naco.org/
This represents an approval rate of 100%, which is higher than the average in Alaska across all industries.
That year, the statewide average approval rate for H-1B petitions stood at 97.6%, the same as in the previous year. Across the publication area, employers across all industries submitted four petitions during the same period, with an approval rate of 75%.
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 two petitions, representing 50% of all submissions in SE Alaska News publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry, which accounted for one petition and represented 25% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry, all were approved.
The SE Alaska News employers that filed the most petitions in the Educational Services sector in SE Alaska News publication area during 2024 were Haines Borough School District and Yakutat City School District, each with one petition.
Compared to 2023, the Educational Services sector saw a 33.3% decrease in the number of H-1B petitions across SE Alaska News 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 | 2 | 50% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 25% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Power and Engineering, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Haines Borough School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The Landing Hotel | 1 | 0% | 100% | |
| Yakutat City School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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