Ted H. Kim, Associate Director Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate for USCIS | https://www.naco.org/
Of these, 454 were approved (98.7%), while six were denied (1.3%).
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 Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings in Mississippi during 2024, with 302 petitions (65.7% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 99.3%. Meanwhile, the Health Care and Social Assistance industry was the second largest contributor, filing 48 petitions (10.4% of the total), with an approval rate of 93.8%.
The Mississippi employers with the most petitions during 2024 included Jackson Public School District, which filed 92 petitions with an approval rate of 100%, Mississippi State University with 53 petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and University of Mississippi Med CT, which filed 51 petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the number of H-1B petitions filed in Mississippi during 2024 increased by 27.8%.
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 | 302 | 65.7% | 99.3% | 0.7% |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 48 | 10.4% | 93.8% | 6.3% |
| 3 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 26 | 5.7% | 96.2% | 3.8% |
| 4 | Finance and Insurance | 23 | 5% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Manufacturing | 17 | 3.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Construction | 16 | 3.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Public Administration | 4 | 0.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Information | 3 | 0.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Utilities | 3 | 0.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Retail Trade | 3 | 0.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | Accommodation and Food Services | 2 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | Wholesale Trade | 2 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 2 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 0.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1 | 0.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 0.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 0.2% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industries | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Public School District | Educational Services | 92 | 100% | 0% |
| Mississippi State University | Educational Services, Manufacturing | 53 | 100% | 0% |
| University of Mississippi Med CT | Educational Services | 51 | 100% | 0% |
| University of Mississippi | Educational Services | 37 | 100% | 0% |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi | Finance and Insurance | 21 | 100% | 0% |
| University of Southern Mississippi | Educational Services | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| Jackson State University | Educational Services | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| North Mississippi Medical Center, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Hattiesburg Clinic P a | Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 83.3% | 16.7% |
| Jindal Tubular USA, LLC | Manufacturing | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Mississippi State Department of Health | Health Care and Social Assistance, Public Administration | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| WG Yates and Sons Construction Company | Construction | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| South Central Regional Medical Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Sunflower County Consolidated Scho | Educational Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Forrest General Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 80% | 20% |
| Phasorsoft Group, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Relias Employment Services, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Delta State University | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Gregory Construction Services, Inc. | Construction | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Memorial Hospital at Gulfport | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Western Line School District | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| IMS Engineers, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Holly Springs School District | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| William Carey University | Educational Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Horne, LLP | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Teknowit, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Mississippi Baptist Medical Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| North Panola School District | Educational Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Entergy Operations, Inc. | Utilities | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Alcorn State University | Educational Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Southern Hospitality Services, LLC | Accommodation and Food Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Hexad Solutions Group, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| FL Crane Sons | Construction | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Steel Dynamics Columbus, LLC | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Mississippi College | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Pearl River Community College | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Varahi, Inc. | Retail Trade | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Singing River Health System | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Meridian Public School District | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Cellular South, Inc. | Information | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Tougaloo College | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| MS Achievement School District | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insu | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| South Dallas School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Club Holdings I, LLC | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Solar Group, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Software Consulting Services, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Skyhawke Technologies, LLC | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Rust College | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Roy Anderson, Corp. | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Confortaire, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| RC Construction Company, Inc. | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Physician Services, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Couthwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Clarksdale Municipal School Distri | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| T Enterprises, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Taste Maker Foods, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The Medical Oncology Group P a | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Tower Loan of Mississippi, LLC | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Canamex-Carbra Transportation Services, LLC | Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Belhaven University | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Amplify Cell Technologies, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Vergent LMS | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Vickburg Nephrology, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Vicksburg Healthcare, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Walthall County School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Allen Engineering and Science, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ali and Associates PA | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Elliott Homes, LLC | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Madison Services, Inc. | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Lula Rich Educational Foundation I | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Leland School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Laurel School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Kerioth Corporation | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ergon, Inc. | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Family Health Center, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Feuer Powertrain North America, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Implementation Technologies Consulting, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| HPS Software Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Howard Industries, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| FHS Provider Services, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Holmescountyconsolidatedschooldist | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Gulfport School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Harper Rains Knight and Company P | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| PHI Theta Kappa Honor Society | Educational Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Copiah County School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Phasorgrid, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Omni Sourcing, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Cropfiq, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% | |
| North Mississippi Medical Clinics, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Davis Aviation, Inc. | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Next Gear Solutions, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Moon River Foods, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Mississippi Valley State Universit | Educational Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Mississippi Symphony Orchestra Association | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Delta Health Alliance, Inc. | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Desoto Family Care Clinic, PLLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Mississippi Department of Archives | Information | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Electrolux Professional, Inc. | Retail Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Millsaps College | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |