Of these, 916 were approved (97.4%), while 24 were denied (2.6%).
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.
For comparison, the average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the United States in 2024 stood at 98%, slightly higher than the 97.3% recorded in 2023.
The Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led the H-1B filings in Oklahoma during 2024, with 373 petitions (39.7% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 96.2%. Meanwhile, the Educational Services industry was the second largest contributor, filing 275 petitions (29.3% of the total), with an approval rate of 99.3%.
The Oklahoma employers with the most petitions during 2024 included Paycom Payroll, LLC, which filed 172 petitions with an approval rate of 100%, University of Oklahoma with 125 petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and Veridic Solutions, LLC, which filed 103 petitions with an approval rate of 89.3%.
Compared to 2023, the number of H-1B petitions filed in Oklahoma during 2024 increased by 14.2%.
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 | 373 | 39.7% | 96.2% | 3.8% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 275 | 29.3% | 99.3% | 0.7% |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 136 | 14.5% | 97.8% | 2.2% |
| 4 | Information | 29 | 3.1% | 93.1% | 6.9% |
| 5 | Manufacturing | 28 | 3% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Retail Trade | 14 | 1.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 12 | 1.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Construction | 12 | 1.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Finance and Insurance | 11 | 1.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 10 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 9 | 1% | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | Transportation and Warehousing | 7 | 0.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 12 | Utilities | 6 | 0.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 5 | 0.5% | 80% | 20% |
| 14 | Public Administration | 4 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Accommodation and Food Services | 3 | 0.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 3 | 0.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 3 | 0.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 18 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 2 | 0.2% | 50% | 50% |
| 19 | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industries | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paycom Payroll, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 172 | 100% | 0% |
| University of Oklahoma | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services, Educational Services | 125 | 100% | 0% |
| Veridic Solutions, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 103 | 89.3% | 10.7% |
| Oklahoma State University | Educational Services | 53 | 98.1% | 1.9% |
| Saint Francis Health System | Health Care and Social Assistance | 27 | 100% | 0% |
| Ou Health Partners, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 19 | 100% | 0% |
| PCI Energy Solutions | Information | 19 | 89.5% | 10.5% |
| Comanche County Hospital Authority | Health Care and Social Assistance | 14 | 92.9% | 7.1% |
| The University of Oklahoma | Educational Services | 14 | 92.9% | 7.1% |
| Dove Schools, Inc. | Educational Services | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| University of Tulsa | Educational Services | 13 | 100% | 0% |
| Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Integris Health, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| WTI Holdings, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Oral Roberts University | Educational Services | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Helmerich and Payne Management, LLC | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Capspire, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. | Retail Trade | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Ciber Pathway, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma | Public Administration, Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Talisman Consulting, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Western Heights Public Schools | Educational Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| One Gas, Inc. | Utilities | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| ARL Bio Pharma, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Objectstream, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Oklahoma City University | Educational Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| John Zink Company, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 75% | 25% |
| Oneok Services Company, LLC | Transportation and Warehousing | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Mercy Clinic Oklahoma Communities, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Independent School District 1 of Tulsa | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| University of Central Oklahoma | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Flintco, LLC | Construction | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Ameriinfovets, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Reflections Systems, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| TNI KSO, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Choctaw Memorial Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| CFS Brands, LLC | Manufacturing, Accommodation and Food Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Life. Church Operations, LLC | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Jackson County Memorial Hospital Authority | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Norman Regional Hospital Authority an Oklahoma Public Trust | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Oklahoma Blood Institute | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Loves Travel Stops and Country Stores, Inc. | Retail Trade | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Saints Medical Group, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| American Fidelity Assurance Company | Finance and Insurance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Airgo Systems, LLC | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 360 Engineering Group, PLLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State University | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Downing Wellhead Equipment, LLC | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| East Central University | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Langston University | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| GDH Consulting, Inc. | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2 | 50% | 50% |
| Southeastern Oklahoma State University | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Genisys Controls, LLC | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| First United Bank and Trust | Finance and Insurance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Sagenet, LLC | Information | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Oklahoma Christian University | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Worldwide Printing and Distribution, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| William Velie Attorneys at Law, PLLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Northeastern State University | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| West Side Alliance S C | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 2 | 50% | 50% |
| Nortek Air Solutions, LLC | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| US Department of Veterans Affairs | Health Care and Social Assistance, Public Administration | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Hogan Taylor, LLP | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Oklahoma Heart Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Business Imaging Systems, Inc. | Information | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Casino Cash Trac, LLC | Information | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Union Public Schools | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Classically Formed, Inc. | Educational Services | 2 | 50% | 50% |
| Clinton Hospital Authority | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Community Health Centers of Oklaho | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Community Health Services | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Putnam City Schools | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Lifeshare Network, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Petroleum Equipment Institute Pei | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| PDR/Orchestrate, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Premium Aerospace Center Oklahoma | Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Pepm Group, PLLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The Hanor Company of Wisconsin, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Paul Ziert and Associates, Inc. | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Osteopathic Physicians of Tulsa in | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Oso Perforating, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Orthodontic Specialists of Oklahoma, PLLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Opnbxai, Inc. | Information | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Openfusion, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Oklahomas Credit Union | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Oklahoma Wesleyan University | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Oklahoma Panhandle State University | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company | Utilities | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Oklahoma City VA US Department of Vetrans Affairs | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 4J Foundation, Inc. | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The Orthopaedic Center, P C | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The Salvation Army | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The Voice of the Martyrs, Inc. | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| TK Drilling, Corp. | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Tonkawa Foundry | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Topmark Homes, LLC | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Trinity Plaza, Inc. | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Tulsa Innovation Labs, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| UHS of Oklahoma, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |