This represents an approval rate of 97.4%, which is lower than the nationwide average.
In 2024, the average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the U.S. stood at 98%, slightly higher than the 97.3% recorded in 2023.
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 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led H-1B petition approvals in Oklahoma during 2024, filing a total of 373 petitions (39.7% of all submissions) and receiving 359 approvals, resulting in an approval rate of 96.2%. The Educational Services industry followed, with 275 petitions (29.3% of all submissions), receiving 273 approvals and an approval rate of 99.3%.
Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.
The Oklahoma employers with the most approvals during 2024 included Paycom Payroll, LLC, filing a total of 172 petitions and receiving approvals for all of them, and University of Oklahoma, which filed 125 petitions and received approvals for all of them.
Compared to 2023, Oklahoma saw a 14.2% 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 Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 373 | 39.7% | 359 | 96.2% | 3.8% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 275 | 29.3% | 273 | 99.3% | 0.7% |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 136 | 14.5% | 133 | 97.8% | 2.2% |
| 4 | Manufacturing | 28 | 3% | 28 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Information | 29 | 3.1% | 27 | 93.1% | 6.9% |
| 6 | Retail Trade | 14 | 1.5% | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 12 | 1.3% | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Construction | 12 | 1.3% | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Finance and Insurance | 11 | 1.2% | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| 10 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 9 | 1% | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | Transportation and Warehousing | 7 | 0.7% | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| 12 | Utilities | 6 | 0.6% | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Public Administration | 4 | 0.4% | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 5 | 0.5% | 4 | 80% | 20% |
| 15 | Accommodation and Food Services | 3 | 0.3% | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 3 | 0.3% | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 3 | 0.3% | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 18 | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 18 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 2 | 0.2% | 1 | 50% | 50% |
| Rank | Company Name | Industry(ies) | Total Petitions | Approved Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paycom Payroll, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 172 | 172 | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | University of Oklahoma | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services; Educational Services | 125 | 125 | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Veridic Solutions, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 103 | 92 | 89.3% | 10.7% |
| 4 | Oklahoma State University | Educational Services | 53 | 52 | 98.1% | 1.9% |
| 5 | Saint Francis Health System | Health Care and Social Assistance | 27 | 27 | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Ou Health Partners, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 19 | 19 | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | PCI Energy Solutions | Information | 19 | 17 | 89.5% | 10.5% |
| 8 | Dove Schools, Inc. | Educational Services | 14 | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | University of Tulsa | Educational Services | 13 | 13 | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Comanche County Hospital Authority | Health Care and Social Assistance | 14 | 13 | 92.9% | 7.1% |
| 9 | The University of Oklahoma | Educational Services | 14 | 13 | 92.9% | 7.1% |
| 12 | WTI Holdings, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 10 | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| 12 | Integris Health, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 10 | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| 12 | Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 10 | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Oral Roberts University | Educational Services | 9 | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| 16 | Helmerich and Payne Management, LLC | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 8 | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| 17 | Capspire, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 7 | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| 18 | Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. | Retail Trade | 6 | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| 18 | Ciber Pathway, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| 20 | One Gas, Inc. | Utilities | 5 | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 20 | Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma | Health Care and Social Assistance; Public Administration | 5 | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 20 | Western Heights Public Schools | Educational Services | 5 | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 20 | ARL Bio Pharma, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 20 | Oklahoma City University | Educational Services | 5 | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 20 | Talisman Consulting, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 20 | Objectstream, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 27 | Mercy Clinic Oklahoma Communities, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 27 | University of Central Oklahoma | Educational Services | 4 | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 27 | Oneok Services Company, LLC | Transportation and Warehousing | 4 | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 27 | Ameriinfovets, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 27 | Independent School District 1 of Tulsa | Educational Services | 4 | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 27 | Flintco, LLC | Construction | 4 | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | Reflections Systems, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | TNI KSO, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | Saints Medical Group, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | Oklahoma Blood Institute | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | Airgo Systems, LLC | Manufacturing | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | Norman Regional Hospital Authority an Oklahoma Public Trust | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | American Fidelity Assurance Company | Finance and Insurance | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | Loves Travel Stops and Country Stores, Inc. | Retail Trade | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | Life. Church Operations, LLC | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | CFS Brands, LLC | Manufacturing; Accommodation and Food Services | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | John Zink Company, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 3 | 75% | 25% |
| 33 | Jackson County Memorial Hospital Authority | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | Choctaw Memorial Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Northeastern State University | Educational Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Downing Wellhead Equipment, LLC | Manufacturing | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | 360 Engineering Group, PLLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | East Central University | Educational Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Nortek Air Solutions, LLC | Manufacturing | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Sagenet, LLC | Information | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | First United Bank and Trust | Finance and Insurance | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Oklahoma Christian University | Educational Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Putnam City Schools | Educational Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Genisys Controls, LLC | Manufacturing | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Oklahoma Heart Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Hogan Taylor, LLP | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Lifeshare Network, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Langston University | Educational Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Worldwide Printing and Distribution, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | William Velie Attorneys at Law, PLLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | US Department of Veterans Affairs | Health Care and Social Assistance; Public Administration | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Business Imaging Systems, Inc. | Information | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Union Public Schools | Educational Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Casino Cash Trac, LLC | Information | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Clinton Hospital Authority | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Community Health Centers of Oklaho | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Community Health Services | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Southeastern Oklahoma State University | Educational Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Southwestern Oklahoma State University | Educational Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | St. John Physicians, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Trinity Plaza, Inc. | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Tulsa Innovation Labs, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | UHS of Oklahoma, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Opnbxai, Inc. | Information | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | SGA Design Group, P C | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Openfusion, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Silver Lake Construction, LLC | Construction | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Spherexx, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center | Educational Services | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | University of Science and ARTS of Oklahoma | Educational Services | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Oklahomas Credit Union | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | Educational Services | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Velie Law Firm, PLLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Oklahoma Panhandle State University | Educational Services | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | West Side Alliance S C | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 2 | 1 | 50% | 50% |
| 71 | Wheeler Bio, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company | Utilities | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | White Hawk Engineering and Design, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Oklahoma City VA US Department of Vetrans Affairs | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Southern Plains Medical Center, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Oklahoma City Community College | Educational Services | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Williams WPC I, LLC | Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | World Water Works, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | SLW Automotive, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Writesea Group, Inc. | Information | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Zeeco, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Oklahoma Attorneys Mutual Insurance Company | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | RS, LLC | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 71 | Stonebridge Acquisition, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |