Of these, 164 were approved (97.6%), while four were denied (2.4%).
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 Montana during 2024, with 57 petitions (33.9% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 98.2%. Meanwhile, the Health Care and Social Assistance industry was the second largest contributor, filing 51 petitions (30.4% of the total), with an approval rate of 100%.
Among Montana employers that made petitions during 2024, Fair Isaac Corporation stood out with 22 petitions and an approval rate of 100%, followed by University of Montana with 18 petitions and an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the number of H-1B petitions filed in Montana during 2024 decreased by 5.6%.
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 | 57 | 33.9% | 98.2% | 1.8% |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 51 | 30.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 44 | 26.2% | 97.7% | 2.3% |
| 4 | Manufacturing | 5 | 3% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Finance and Insurance | 5 | 3% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Information | 2 | 1.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 0.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 0.6% | 0% | 100% |
| 7 | Public Administration | 1 | 0.6% | 0% | 100% |
| Company Name | Industries | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair Isaac Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 22 | 100% | 0% |
| University of Montana | Educational Services | 18 | 100% | 0% |
| Billings Clinic | Health Care and Social Assistance | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| Montana State University | Educational Services | 12 | 91.7% | 8.3% |
| Tana Systems, Inc. | Manufacturing, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 11 | 90.9% | 9.1% |
| Benefis Health System, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Brockton School District 55 and 55F | Educational Services | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Northeast Montana Health Services, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| D a Davidson and Company | Finance and Insurance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| County of Blaine Blaine County School | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Electrical Consultants, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Jordan Public Schools | Educational Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Montana State University Billings | Educational Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Northern Montana Health Care D, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Sidney Health Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Ruby Valley Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Lame Deer Public School District N | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Snowflake, Inc. | Information | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Wheatland Memorial Healthcare | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Glendive Medical Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Wolf Point Public School District 45 45A | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Dahl Memorial Healthcare Association, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Gallatin County | Public Administration | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Pioneer Medical Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Powell Company Memorial Hospital Association | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Rhithron Associates, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Central Montana Medical Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Shelby Public School District 14 | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Central Copters, Inc. | Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Smartlam Enterprises US LLC, NA | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Cennox, Inc. | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sokn Engineering, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| St. Luke Community Healthcare | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Carroll College | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Tigris Nephrology, PLLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Turner School District 43 | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Bozeman Deaconess Health Services | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Wayne State University | 1 | 100% | 0% | |
| Bloomifai, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| ARKK Technologies, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Glacier Eye Clinic, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Engineering, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Great Falls Clinic | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Hardin School Districts 17H and 1 | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Healthsource Partners DK HM, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Indian Law Resource Center | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Drover, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Dawson Community College | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Lumenad, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Montana Health Cooperative | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Daniels Memorial Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Neuro-ID, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Nomad Global Communication Solutio | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| County of Valley School District 23 | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Churchill Equipment Company, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Phillips County Hospital Association | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |