Ted H. Kim, Associate Director Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate for USCIS | https://www.naco.org/
Ted H. Kim, Associate Director Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate for USCIS | https://www.naco.org/
Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.
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.
In 2024, the average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the United States stood at 98%, slightly higher than 2023's 97.3%.
The Health Care and Social Assistance industry led the H-1B filings locally during 2024, with 19 petitions (52.8% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 100%. Meanwhile, the Educational Services industry was the second largest contributor, filing nine petitions (25% of the total), with an approval rate of 100%.
The Yakima Times publication area employers with the most petitions during 2024 included Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, which filed nine petitions with an approval rate of 100%, Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital Association with six petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and Central Washington University, which filed five petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Yakima Times publication area saw a 16.1% 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 | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 19 | 52.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 9 | 25% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Manufacturing | 3 | 8.3% | 66.7% | 33.3% |
| 4 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 1 | 2.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 2.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 2.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Retail Trade | 1 | 2.8% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry(ies) | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic | Health Care and Social Assistance | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital Association | Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Central Washington University | Educational Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Heritage University | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Toppenish School District 202 | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Vidisa, LLC | Retail Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Tree Top, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Timber It Consulting, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sunnyside Community Hospital Association | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Southeast Washington Aging and Lon | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| J Hamilton Licht PC, M.D. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Irwin Research and Development, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| HSU Tsuchikawa Ghorbanian, PLLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Greenwood Mushrooms Sunnyside IA, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Derek Thompson Patrick Ferguson D.D.S. PLLC, D.M.D. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Care Center Toppenish, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Anderson Hay and Grain Company, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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