This represents an approval rate of 98.6%, which is higher 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 Retail Trade industry led H-1B petition approvals in Arkansas during 2024, filing a total of 3,403 petitions (77.3% of all submissions) and receiving 3,377 approvals, resulting in an approval rate of 99.2%. The Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry followed, with 409 petitions (9.3% of all submissions), receiving 392 approvals and an approval rate of 95.8%.
Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.
The Arkansas employers with the most approvals during 2024 included Wal Mart Associates, Inc., filing a total of 3,404 petitions and receiving 3,378 approvals, resulting in an approval rate of 99.2%, and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, which filed 98 petitions and received approvals for all of them.
Compared to 2023, Arkansas saw a 26.5% 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 | Retail Trade | 3,403 | 77.3% | 3,377 | 99.2% | 0.8% |
| 2 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 409 | 9.3% | 392 | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| 3 | Educational Services | 227 | 5.2% | 221 | 97.4% | 2.6% |
| 4 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 105 | 2.4% | 101 | 96.2% | 3.8% |
| 5 | Transportation and Warehousing | 76 | 1.7% | 74 | 97.4% | 2.6% |
| 6 | Manufacturing | 50 | 1.1% | 49 | 98% | 2% |
| 7 | Information | 40 | 0.9% | 34 | 85% | 15% |
| 8 | Finance and Insurance | 31 | 0.7% | 31 | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Public Administration | 15 | 0.3% | 14 | 93.3% | 6.7% |
| 10 | Wholesale Trade | 7 | 0.2% | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | Construction | 4 | 0.1% | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 12 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 3 | 0.1% | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Accommodation and Food Services | 2 | ~0% | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | Utilities | 1 | ~0% | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1 | ~0% | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Rank | Company Name | Industry(ies) | Total Petitions | Approved Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wal Mart Associates, Inc. | Wholesale Trade; Retail Trade | 3,404 | 3,378 | 99.2% | 0.8% |
| 2 | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Educational Services | 98 | 98 | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | JB Hunt Transport, Inc. | Transportation and Warehousing | 78 | 77 | 98.7% | 1.3% |
| 4 | University of Arkansas | Educational Services | 59 | 58 | 98.3% | 1.7% |
| 5 | Gainwell Technologies, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 57 | 57 | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Federal Soft Systems, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 52 | 48 | 92.3% | 7.7% |
| 7 | Invincible Technician Systems, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 42 | 41 | 97.6% | 2.4% |
| 8 | Acxiom, LLC | Information | 31 | 26 | 83.9% | 16.1% |
| 9 | Tyson Foods, Inc. | Manufacturing | 22 | 22 | 100% | 0% |
| 10 | Protech Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 21 | 21 | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | Valuepro, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 22 | 20 | 90.9% | 9.1% |
| 12 | Kitestring Consulting, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 17 | 17 | 100% | 0% |
| 12 | Arcbest Technologies, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 17 | 17 | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | Cloud Centric, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 15 | 15 | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Educational Services | 13 | 13 | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | AMS It Solutions, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 14 | 13 | 92.9% | 7.1% |
| 15 | Little Scholars of Arkansas | Educational Services | 14 | 13 | 92.9% | 7.1% |
| 18 | St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 12 | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| 19 | Big River Steel, LLC | Manufacturing | 11 | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| 19 | Bank OZK | Finance and Insurance | 11 | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| 19 | National Soft Systems, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 13 | 11 | 84.6% | 15.4% |
| 22 | Simmons Bank | Finance and Insurance | 9 | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| 22 | Novustech, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 9 | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| 22 | St. Vincent Medical Group | Health Care and Social Assistance | 9 | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| 22 | Arkansas State University | Educational Services | 9 | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| 22 | Usable Mutual Insurance Company | Finance and Insurance | 9 | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| 27 | Superintendent of Marion School District | 8 | 8 | 100% | 0% | |
| 27 | Arkansas Health Group | Health Care and Social Assistance | 9 | 8 | 88.9% | 11.1% |
| 27 | Quality Global Service, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 8 | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Mercy Clinic Fort Smith Communities | Health Care and Social Assistance | 7 | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Garver, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 7 | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| 30 | Aegis Therapies, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 8 | 7 | 87.5% | 12.5% |
| 30 | Baptist Health Group | Health Care and Social Assistance | 7 | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| 34 | First Orion, Corp. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| 34 | Jefferson Hospital Association, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| 34 | Aariv Technologies, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| 34 | Unique Logic Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| 34 | State of Arkansas - Administrative | Public Administration | 6 | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Abco Computers, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 7 | 5 | 71.4% | 28.6% |
| 39 | Southern Arkansas University | Educational Services | 6 | 5 | 83.3% | 16.7% |
| 39 | St. Bernards Hospital, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | First Soft Systems, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 7 | 5 | 71.4% | 28.6% |
| 43 | Baxter County Regional Hospital, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Good One It Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Apex Advisory, LLC | Retail Trade; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 4 | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | University of Central Arkansas | Educational Services | 4 | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Blytheville School District No 5 | Educational Services | 4 | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Libertycom, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System | Public Administration | 4 | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Mississippi County Hospital System | Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 4 | 66.7% | 33.3% |
| 43 | Camden Fairview School District | Educational Services | 4 | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | Tecsource International, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | Kee Technologies Group, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | K Tek Soft, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | Superintendent of Osceola Public Schools | Educational Services | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | Simmons Prepared Foods, Inc. | Manufacturing | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | Vidha It Solutions, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 3 | 60% | 40% |
| 52 | Hope Public School District | Educational Services | 4 | 3 | 75% | 25% |
| 52 | Welspun Pipes, Inc. | Manufacturing | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | White River Health System, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | FTN Associates, Ltd. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | Pearlsoft Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | Baptist Health Services | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | Arkansas Children'S Research Institute | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | Continental Utility Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | Arkansas Department of Public Safety | Public Administration | 4 | 3 | 75% | 25% |
| 68 | Jack Stephens Heart Institute, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | University of the Ozarks | Educational Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | John Brown University | Educational Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | Kiswire Pine Bluff, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | Arkansas Childrens | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | Lyon College | Educational Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | Mavis Solutions, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | Teslac It Solutions, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | Supplypike, Inc. | Information | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | Philander Smith College | Educational Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | Arkansas Surgical Hospital, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | Select Jarvis, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | Scope Retail Systems, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | Dream and Rise Associates, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | Fidus Global, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | Vrpro It, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | Inteliblue, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | E Ritter Communications Holdings, LLC | Information | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | Acoustic L P | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | WH AR Dental, PLLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 68 | Westrock Beverage Company, LLC | Manufacturing | 2 | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 90 | Arkansas Technician University | Educational Services | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 90 | Arkansas Renal Group P a | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 90 | Stephens, Inc. | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 90 | Stout Stuff, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 90 | Arkansas Heart Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 90 | Arkansas Healthcare Services, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 90 | UPX1725 Hospitality, LLC | Accommodation and Food Services | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 90 | St. Marys Physician Services, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 90 | St. Bernards Physician Clinics, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 90 | Atek Automation, LLC | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 90 | Southern Arkansas University Technician | Educational Services | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0% |