Characteristics of H-1B 

Specialty Occupation 

Workers

Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Report to Congress 

October 1, 2010 – September 30, 2011

March 12, 2012

U.S. Citizenship and 

Immigration Services
i

 Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs

 U.S. Department of Homeland Security

 Washington, DC 20528

March 12, 2012

Foreword

On behalf of the Department of Homeland Security, I am pleased to present the following report, 

“Characteristics of H-1B Specialty Occupation Workers” for Fiscal Year 2011, prepared by 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 

Pursuant to statutory requirements, this report is being provided to the following Members of 

Congress:

The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy

Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee

The Honorable Charles Grassley

Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee

The Honorable Lamar Smith

Chairman, House Judiciary Committee

The Honorable John Conyers, Jr.

Ranking Member, House Judiciary Committee

Inquiries relating to this report may be directed to me at (202) 447-5890.

Respectfully,

Nelson Peacock

Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs
ii

Executive Summary

The American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 (ACWIA), Pub. L. 

No. 105-277, div. C, tit. IV § 416(c)(2), 112 Stat. 2681, imposes annual reporting requirements 

on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) concerning the countries of origin and 

occupations of, educational levels attained by, and compensation paid to, aliens who were issued 

visas or otherwise provided nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of the 

Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) during the previous fiscal year.

To fulfill this requirement, USCIS submits the following report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, 

October 1, 2010 – September 30, 2011.

Highlights

The number of H-1B petitions filed increased eight percent from 247,617 in FY 2010 to 

267,654 in FY 2011.

The number of H-1B petitions approved increased almost 40 percent from 192,990 in 

FY 2010 to 269,653 in FY 2011. 1

Approximately 58 percent of all H-1B petitions approved in FY 2011 were for workers 

born in India.

Over two-thirds of H-1B petitions approved in FY 2011 were for workers between the 

ages of 25 and 34.

Forty-one percent of H-1B petitions approved in FY 2011 were for workers with a 

bachelor’s degree, forty-two percent had a master’s degree, eleven percent had a 

doctorate, and 5 percent were for workers with a professional degree.

About 51 percent of H-1B petitions approved in FY 2011 were for workers in computerrelated occupations.

The median salary of beneficiaries of approved petitions increased to $70,000 in 

FY 2011, $2,000 more than in FY 2010.

 

1 This number does not reflect approval versus denial rates but rather shows the number of approved petitions 

overall this year versus the number approved last year. 61,738 petitions were received prior to Fiscal Year 

2011, but were approved in Fiscal Year 2011 (see footnote 12). 
iii

Characteristics of H-1B Specialty Occupation Workers

Table of Contents

I. Legislative Requirement ................................................................................1

II. Background ..............................................................................................................................2

III. Data Report.........................................................................................................................5

Section 3.1 – General distribution of petitions........................................................5

 Section 3.2 – Distribution of petitions by country of birth............................................8

 Section 3.3 – General distribution of petitions by age...............................................10

 Section 3.4 – Distribution of petitions by education..................................................11

 Section 3.5 – Distribution of petitions by occupation................................................13

 Section 3.6 – Distribution of petitions by annual compensation....................................17

 Section 3.7 – Distribution of petitions by industry....................................................21

IV. Appendices..............................................................................................24

A. H-1B petition processing..........................................................................24

B. Data Limitations....................................................................................24

 
1

I. Legislative Requirement

Section 416(c)(2) of the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998

(ACWIA), Pub. L. No. 105-277, div. C, tit. IV, 112 Stat. 2681, includes the following reporting 

requirement:2

[T]he Attorney General3shall submit on an annual basis, to the Committees on the 

Judiciary of the United States House of Representatives and the Senate, information on 

the countries of origin and occupations of, educational levels attained by, and 

compensation paid to, aliens who were issued visas or otherwise provided nonimmigrant 

status under section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act during 

the previous fiscal year.

 

2

Section 416(c)(3) of ACWIA, Pub. L. No. 105-277, div. C, tit. IV, 112 Stat. 2681 requires the submission of data 

on the number of aliens issued visas or otherwise provided nonimmigrant status pursuant to petitions filed by 

institutions or organizations described in section 212(p) of the INA. This data is included in the “Report on H-1B 

Petitions” for Fiscal Year 2011.

3 As of March 1, 2003, in accordance with section 1517 of Title XV of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (HSA), 

Pub. L. No. 107-296, 116 Stat. 2135, any reference to the Attorney General in a provision of the Immigration and 

Nationality Act describing functions which were transferred from the Attorney General or other Department of 

Justice official to the Department of Homeland Security by the HSA “shall be deemed to refer to the Secretary” of 

Homeland Security. See 6 U.S.C. § 557 (2003) (codifying HSA, Title XV, § 1517).
2

II. Background

An H-1B temporary worker is an alien admitted to the United States to perform services in a 

“specialty occupation.”4

The H-1B nonimmigrant classification is a vehicle through which a qualified alien may seek 

admission to the United States on a temporary basis to work in his or her field of expertise. An 

H-1B petition can be filed for an alien to perform services in a specialty occupation, services 

relating to a Department of Defense (DoD) cooperative research and development project or 

coproduction project, or services of distinguished merit and ability in the field of fashion 

modeling. Prior to employing an H-1B temporary worker, the U.S. employer must first file a 

Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor (DOL) and then file an H-1B 

petition with USCIS.5 The LCA specifies the job, salary, length, and geographic location of 

employment. The employer must agree to pay the alien the greater of the actual or prevailing 

wage for the position.

To qualify as a specialty occupation, the position must meet one of the following requirements: 

(1) a bachelor’s or higher degree or its equivalent is normally the minimum entry requirement for 

the position; (2) the degree requirement is common to the industry in parallel positions among 

similar organizations or, in the alternative, the position is so complex or unique that it can be 

performed only by an individual with a degree; (3) the employer normally requires a degree or its 

equivalent for the position; or (4) the nature of the specific duties is so specialized and complex 

that the knowledge required to perform the duties is usually associated with attainment of a 

bachelor’s or higher degree. See 8 CFR 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(A). 

In order to perform services in a specialty occupation, an alien must meet one of the following 

criteria: (1) hold a U.S. bachelor’s or higher degree as required by the specialty occupation from 

an accredited college or university; (2) possess a foreign degree determined to be equivalent to a 

U.S. bachelor’s or higher degree as required by the specialty occupation from an accredited 

college or university; (3) have any required license or other official permission to practice the 

occupation (for example, architect, surveyor, physical therapist) in the state in which 

employment is sought; or (4) have education, specialized training, or progressively responsible 

experience (or a combination thereof) that is equivalent to completion of a U.S. bachelor’s 

degree or higher in the specialty occupation, and have recognition of expertise through 

progressively responsible positions directly related to the specialty occupation. See 8 CFR 

214.2(h)(4)(iii)(C). Specialty occupations may include, but are not limited to, computer systems 

analysts and programmers, physicians, professors, engineers, and accountants. See 8 CFR 

214.2(h)(4)(ii).

 

4

Section 214(i)(1) of the INA defines a specialty occupation as “an occupation that requires (A) the theoretical and 

practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge, and (B) attainment of a bachelor’s or higher degree 

in the specific specialty (or its equivalent) as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the United States.” 

8 U.S.C. 1184(i)(1).

5 An LCA is not required for petitions involving DoD cooperative research and development projects or 

coproduction projects. 8 CFR 214.2(h)(4)(vi)(A)(2). 
3

Although USCIS is responsible for evaluating an alien’s qualifications for the H-1B 

classification and effecting a change of nonimmigrant status for aliens already in the United 

States in another nonimmigrant classification, approval of an H-1B petition does not guarantee 

issuance of an H-1B visa or admission to the United States in H-1B status. The responsibility 

for visa issuance rests primarily with the U.S. Department of State (DOS), which determines 

after the H-1B petition has been approved by USCIS whether a prospective alien employee can 

obtain a visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. Determinations whether to admit an alien 

in H-1B status are made by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at a port-of-entry. 

Possession of a visa does not guarantee admission.

An alien generally may be admitted to the United States in H-1B status for a maximum period of 

six years, see INA 214(g)(4); however, each H-1B petition may only be approved for a 

maximum period of three years. 6 See 8 CFR 214.2(h)(9)(iii)(A)(1). The H-1B petition may be 

used to sponsor an alien for an initial period of H-1B employment or to extend or change the 

authorized stay of an alien previously admitted to the United States in H-1B status or another 

nonimmigrant status. An employer may file the petition to sponsor an alien who currently has 

H-1B nonimmigrant status working for another employer or amend a previously approved 

petition. Therefore, the total number of approved petitions in any given fiscal year may exceed 

the actual number of aliens who are provided nonimmigrant status in the H-1B classification. At 

the end of the six-year period, the alien must either change to a different status (if eligible) or 

depart the United States.7 USCIS regulations provide that an alien who has resided and been 

physically present outside the United States for at least one year may be eligible for a new sixyear period of admission in H-1B status. See 8 CFR 214.2(h)(13)(iii)(A). 

When the H-1B category was enacted in 1990, Congress set a maximum of 65,000 H-1B visas 

that may be issued to aliens during each fiscal year. This limitation, commonly referred to as the 

“H-1B cap,” does not apply to H-1B petitions filed on behalf of certain aliens who have 

previously been counted against the cap. Thus, generally, a petition to extend an H-1B 

nonimmigrant’s period of stay, change the conditions of the H-1B nonimmigrant’s current 

employment, or request new H-1B employment for an H-1B worker already in the United States 

will not count against the H-1B fiscal year cap. An approved petition for initial employment is 

exempt from the cap if the petitioner is an institution of higher education or nonprofit entity

affiliated with or related to an institution of higher education, or if the petitioner is a nonprofit 

research organization or governmental research organization. See INA 214(g)(5).

The Immigration Act of 1990, the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act 

of 1998 (ACWIA) and the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-first Century Act of 2000

(AC21), made significant changes to policy and procedure governing the H-1B category, 

including providing temporary increases in the fiscal year limitations on available H-1B visas 

 

6 An alien involved in DoD cooperative research and development projects or coproduction projects may be 

admitted to the United States in H-1B status for a maximum period of ten years, see 8 CFR 214.2(h)(13)(iii)(B); 

however, the H-1B petition may only be approved for a maximum period of five years. See 8 CFR 

214.2(h)(9)(iii)(A)(2).

7 Certain aliens are exempt from the 6-year maximum period of admission under the provisions of the American 

Competitiveness in the Twenty-first Century Act of 2000 (AC21), Pub. L. No. 106-313, 114 Stat. 1251. 
4

and providing certain exemptions to these limitations. Under ACWIA, the annual ceiling of 

H-1B petitions valid for new employment was increased from 65,000 to 115,000 in Fiscal Years 

(FY) 1999 and 2000 and to 107,500 in FY 2001. AC21 raised the limit on petitions in FY 2001, 

FY 2002, and FY 2003 to 195,000. Starting in FY 2004, the H-1B cap reverted to 65,000 per 

fiscal year and remains at that level.8 These statutory provisions also provided for certain 

exemptions from the fiscal year H-1B cap, as described above. The H-1B Visa Reform Act of 

2004 mandated that up to 20,000 H-1B petitions filed on behalf of aliens with U.S.-earned 

master’s or higher degrees will be exempt from any fiscal year cap on available H-1B visas. See

INA 214(g)(5)(C), 8 USC 1184(g)(5)(C).

III. Data Report

Section 3.1 – General distribution of petitions

During FY 2011, USCIS approved 269,653 H-1B petitions submitted by employers on behalf of 

alien workers. The number of approved petitions exceeds the number of individual H-1B 

workers sponsored because of the different types of petitions that can be filed (e.g., requests for

concurrent employment with another employer, requests for extension of stay, amended 

petitions, etc.). 

Table 1 shows for FYs 2008 to 2011 the number of petitions filed for initial and continuing 

employment and the number of petitions approved for initial and continuing employment. Of 

the petitions approved in 2011, a total of 106,445 petitions, or 40 percent, were for initial 

employment.9 The corresponding number of petitions for continuing employment was 163,208.10 

A worker may have had a second (or subsequent) petition filed in his or her behalf to: 1) extend 

the period allowed to work with their current employer; 2) notify USCIS of changes in the 

conditions of employment, including a change of employer; or 3) request concurrent H-1B status 

with another employer.

The number of H-1B petitions filed increased 8 percent and petitions approved increased by 

 

8 Each fiscal year, up to 1,400 H-1B visa numbers are set aside for nationals of Chile and up to 5,400 are set aside 

for nationals of Singapore under the provisions of Free Trade Agreements between the U.S. and each country. See

INA 214(g)(8)(B)(ii), 8 U.S.C. 1184(g)(8)(B)(ii). In addition, there is a limit of no more than 100 aliens in the U.S. 

at any time performing services in a DoD cooperative research and development projects or coproduction projects. 

See 8 CFR 214.2(h)(8)(i)(B).

9 The terms “initial employment” and “continuing employment” are used throughout this report to identify two types 

of petitions. Petitions for initial employment are filed for first-time H-1B employment with an employer, only some 

of which are applied to the annual cap. Examples of petitions for initial employment that are exempt from the cap 

include petitions submitted by nonprofit research organizations or governmental research organizations. Continuing 

employment petitions refer to extensions, sequential employment, and concurrent employment, which are filed for 

aliens already in the United States. Extensions generally are filed for H-1B workers intending to work beyond the 

initial 3-year period up to a total of six years, the maximum period generally permissible under law. Sequential 

employment refers to petitions for workers transferring between H-1B employers within the 6-year period. Finally, 

petitions for concurrent employment are filed for H-1B workers intending to work simultaneously for a second or 

subsequent H-1B employer.

10 Neither AC21 nor prior legislation established a cap on H-1B petitions for continuing employment.
5

40 percent between FYs 2010 and 2011. For initial employment, petitions filed increased 16 

percent and petitions approved increased by 39 percent. Petitions filed for continuing 

employment increased 3 percent and petitions approved increased by 40 percent.

Table 1. H-1B Petitions Filed and Approved by Type of Petition:

Fiscal Years 2008 to 2011

FY 200811 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011

Petitions filed 288,764 246,647 247,617 267,654

 Initial Employment 122,634 105,775 99,146 114,529

 Continuing Employment 166,130 140,872 148,471 153,125

Petitions approved12 276,252 214,271 192,990 269,653

 Initial Employment 109,335 86,300 76,627 106,445

 Continuing Employment 166,917 127,971 116,363 163,208

Table 2 shows the number of H-1B petitions filed by quarter in FYs 2008 to 2011. More than 33 

percent of filings for initial employment occurred in the third quarter of FY 2011, when the capsubject petition filing season opened. Sixty percent of filings for continuing employment were 

received in the third and fourth quarters of FY 2011. 

Table 2. H-1B Petitions Filed by Quarter:

Fiscal Years 2008 to 2011

Quarter FY

2008

FY

2009

FY

2010

FY

2011

FY 2011 

Initial

Employment

Percent

of Total

FY 2011 

Continuing

Employment

Percent

of Total

Total 288,764 246,647 247,617 267,654 114,529 100 153,125 100

October-December 41,852 36,669 50,790 55,781 28,427 24.8 27,354 17.9

January-March 44,486 37,291 34,313 44,995 13,722 12.0 31,273 20.4

April-June 150,942 121,782 88,501 86,716 38,000 33.2 48,716 31.8

July-September 51,484 50,905 74,013 80,162 34,380 30.0 45,782 29.9

Note: Sum of the percent may not add to 100 due to rounding.

 

11 The “petitions filed” figure excludes approximately 63,000 petitions submitted but not selected in the computergenerated random lottery in April 2008.

12 These figures represent all approved petitions during the respective fiscal year, irrespective of whether the petition 

was filed in the same or in a previous fiscal year. To illustrate, 207,915 petitions were both received and approved 

in Fiscal Year 2011, whereas 61,738 petitions were received prior to Fiscal Year 2011, but were approved in Fiscal 

Year 2011.
6

Table 3 provides a breakdown of approved petitions in FYs 2008 to 2011 by type of petition. 

More than 106,000 H-1B beneficiaries were approved for initial employment and 163,000 for 

continuing employment in FY 2011. 

The number of aliens outside the United States approved for initial employment increased nearly 

40 percent from 34,848 in FY 2010 to 48,665 in FY 2011. The corresponding numbers for aliens 

in the United States changing to H-1B status increased by 38 percent to 57,780 in 2011.

Table 3. H-1B Petitions Approved by Type:

Fiscal Years 2008 to 2011

Petitions Approved

Type of Petition FY2008 Percent FY2009 Percent FY2010 Percent FY2011 Percent

Total 276,252 100 214,271 100 192,990 100 269,653 100

Initial employment 109,335 40 86,300 40 76,627 40 106,445 39

 Aliens outside U.S. 55,893 20 33,283 16 34,848 18 48,665 18

 Aliens in U.S. 53,442 19 53,017 25 41,779 22 57,780 21

Continuing employment 166,917 60 127,971 60 116,363 60 163,208 61

Note: Sum of the percent may not add to 100 due to rounding.

Section 3.2 – Distribution of petitions by country of birth

Tables 4A and 4B show the distribution of beneficiaries by country of birth.13 Of the H-1B 

petitions approved in FY 2011, 58 percent reported that the beneficiary was born in India. The 

second most prevalent country of birth of H-1B beneficiaries was the People’s Republic of 

China, representing 8.8 percent of all beneficiaries. The number of beneficiaries from India 

approved for initial employment increased 62 percent in 2011, while the number of beneficiaries 

approved for continuing employment increased 47 percent in FY 2011. 

 

13 Data represent countries and territories of birth.
7

Table 4A. H-1B Petitions Approved by Country of Birth of Beneficiary and Type of 

Petition (Number): Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011

All Beneficiaries Initial Employment Continuing Employment

Country of Birth FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2010 FY 2011

Number Number Number Number Number Number

Total 192,990 269,653 76,627 106,445 116,363 163,208

India 102,911 156,317 34,617 55,972 68,294 100,345

China, People's Republic 17,101 23,787 7,480 10,165 9,621 13,622

Canada 7,260 9,362 2,979 3,584 4,281 5,778

Philippines 6,172 7,582 2,104 2,020 4,068 5,562

South Korea 5,623 6,689 3,150 3,407 2,473 3,282

United Kingdom 3,848 4,629 2,125 2,573 1,723 2,056

Mexico 2,632 3,473 1,124 1,367 1,508 2,106

Japan 2,781 3,274 1,189 1,276 1,592 1,998

Taiwan 2,360 2,937 1,267 1,455 1,093 1,482

France 2,160 2,653 1,264 1,517 896 1,136

Pakistan 2,227 2,552 806 891 1,421 1,661

Germany 1,864 2,193 1,059 1,210 805 983

Turkey 1,934 2,161 948 967 986 1,194

Brazil 1,624 2,010 884 1,105 740 905

Colombia 1,527 1,786 652 705 875 1,081

Venezuela 1,507 1,734 752 846 755 888

Nepal 1,072 1,566 500 719 572 847

Russia 1,162 1,514 647 873 515 641

Italy 1,107 1,351 657 816 450 535

Spain 839 1,198 475 684 364 514

Other countries 25,279 30,885 11,948 14,293 13,331 16,592

Note: Countries of birth are ranked based on 2011 data. 
8

Table 4B. H-1B Petitions Approved by Country of Birth of Beneficiary and Type of 

Petition (Percent): Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011

All Beneficiaries Initial Employment Continuing Employment

Country of Birth FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2010 FY 2011

Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent

Total ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------

Country of birth 100 100 100 100 100 100

India 53.3 58.0 45.2 52.6 58.7 61.5

China, People's Republic 8.9 8.8 9.8 9.5 8.3 8.3

Canada 3.8 3.5 3.9 3.4 3.7 3.5

Philippines 3.2 2.8 2.7 1.9 3.5 3.4

South Korea 2.9 2.5 4.1 3.2 2.1 2.0

United Kingdom 2.0 1.7 2.8 2.4 1.5 1.3

Mexico 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.3

Japan 1.4 1.2 1.6 1.2 1.4 1.2

Taiwan 1.2 1.1 1.7 1.4 0.9 0.9

France 1.1 1.0 1.6 1.4 0.8 0.7

Pakistan 1.2 0.9 1.1 0.8 1.2 1.0

Germany 1.0 0.8 1.4 1.1 0.7 0.6

Turkey 1.0 0.8 1.2 0.9 0.8 0.7

Brazil 0.8 0.7 1.2 1.0 0.6 0.6

Colombia 0.8 0.7 0.9 0.7 0.8 0.7

Venezuela 0.8 0.6 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.5

Nepal 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.5

Russia 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.8 0.4 0.4

Italy 0.6 0.5 0.9 0.8 0.4 0.3

Spain 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.3 0.3

Other countries 13.1 11.5 15.6 13.4 11.5 10.2

Notes: Countries of birth are ranked based on 2011 data. 

 Sum of the percent may not add to 100 due to rounding.
9

Section 3.3 – Distribution of petitions by age

Table 5 shows the age distribution of the H-1B beneficiaries in FY 2011 by type of petition. 

Nearly 70 percent of workers granted H-1B status during FY 2011 were between 25 and 34 years 

of age at the time their petitions were approved. Over 57 percent of initial beneficiaries were 

under 30, compared with over 28 percent of continuing beneficiaries.

Table 5. H-1B Petitions Approved by Age of Beneficiary at Time of Approval

and by Type of Petition: Fiscal Year 2011

Age All

Beneficiaries

Percent Initial

Employment

Percent Continuing 

Employment

Percent

Total 269,653 106,445 163,208

Age known 269,607 100 106,431 100 163,176 100

Under 20 172 0.1 166 0.2 6 0.0

20-24 12,671 4.7 11,636 10.9 1,035 0.6

25-29 94,229 35.0 49,035 46.1 45,194 27.7

30-34 93,538 34.7 27,034 25.4 66,504 40.8

35-39 42,958 15.9 10,777 10.1 32,181 19.7

40-44 15,165 5.6 4,240 4.0 10,925 6.7

45-49 6,339 2.4 1,972 1.9 4,367 2.7

50-54 2,595 1.0 873 0.8 1,722 1.1

55-59 1,224 0.5 443 0.4 781 0.5

60-64 486 0.2 162 0.2 324 0.2

65 and over 230 0.1 93 0.1 137 0.1

Age unknown 46 ------ 14 ------ 32 ------

Notes: Anyone reported as under 16 years old and not a fashion model was assumed to be of unknown age.

Age of beneficiary is calculated based on the date the petition was approved.

Sum of the percent may not add to 100 due to rounding.

 Percentages shown in the table are based on the total number of approved petitions with known ages.

Section 3.4 – Distribution of petitions by education

Tables 6 and 7 show the highest level of education achieved by the beneficiaries at the time of 

filing the petition. Employers are asked to provide the highest degree (domestic or foreign)

when completing the H-1B petition, but not training or experience deemed equivalent to a 

degree. The reporting of a domestic or foreign degree is not required in a standard format on 

USCIS or DOL forms. However, in nearly all cases, the petitioning employer provides the 

information in supporting documentation. For degrees earned outside the United States, the 

employer usually supplies a credential evaluation stating that the foreign degree is “equivalent 
10

to” a particular U.S. degree. USCIS does not maintain separate data regarding whether the 

degree was earned in the United States or abroad. (Data on beneficiaries with U.S. advanced 

degrees has been available since May 2005.) 

The breakdown of the highest level of education achieved by H-1B beneficiaries remained 

constant between FYs 2010 and 2011. As shown in Table 6, 41 percent of all H-1B petitions 

approved for workers in FY 2011 reported that the beneficiary had earned the equivalent of a 

bachelor’s degree; 42 percent a master’s degree; 11 percent a doctorate, and five percent a 

professional degree. Altogether, 99 percent had earned at least a bachelor’s degree, and 58 

percent had earned at least a master’s degree. 

Table 6. H-1B Petitions Approved by Level of Education:

Fiscal Years 2008-2011

Level of Education FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011

Education known 100 100 100 100

Less than a Bachelor's degree 1 1 1 1

Bachelor's degree 43 41 42 41

Master's degree 41 40 39 42

Doctorate degree 11 13 12 11

Professional degree 5 6 6 5

Note: Sum of percent may not add to 100 due to rounding.

Table 7. H-1B Petitions Approved by Level of Education of Beneficiary

and Type of Petition: Fiscal Year 2011

Level of Education All

Be

Percent Initial

Employment

Percent Continuing

Employment

Percent

Beneficiaries Employment Employment

Total 269,653 106,445 163,208

Education known 269,597 100 106,416 100 163,181 100

No high school diploma 467 0.2 373 0.4 94 0.1

High school graduate 662 0.2 500 0.5 162 0.1

Less than 1 year of college credit 83 0.0 44 0.0 39 0.0

1 or more years of college credit,

 no diploma 508 0.2 255 0.2 253 0.2

Associate's degree 414 0.2 170 0.2 244 0.1

Bachelor's degree 111,637 41.4 46,549 43.7 65,088 39.9

Master's degree 112,536 41.7 41,310 38.8 71,226 43.6

Doctorate degree 14,129 5.2 4,892 4.6 9,237 5.7

Professional degree 29,161 10.8 12,323 11.6 16,838 10.3

Education unknown 56 ------- 29 ------ 27 ------

Notes: Sum of the percent may not add to 100 due to rounding.
11

Percentages shown in the table are based on the number of approved petitions with known levels of 

education.

Section 3.5 – Distribution of petitions by occupation

Occupational Category

Tables 8A and 8B show the distribution of beneficiaries by occupational category for FYs 2010 

and 2011. The category of computer-related occupations was the largest occupational category 

in 2011; its share of total petitions approved increased to nearly 51 percent in FY 2011 from over 

47 percent in FY 2010. The corresponding shares for initial employment and continuing 

employment in computer-related occupations were almost 49 and over 52 percent, respectively. 

The top ten occupational categories representing 96 percent of all beneficiaries had more 

continuing employment than initial employment beneficiaries.

The number of H-1B petitions approved for workers in computer-related occupations increased 

48 percent from 90,802 in 2010 to 134,873 in 2011. The number of H-1B petitions for all other 

occupation groups combined increased 30 percent between 2010 and 2011.
12

Table 8A. H-1B Petitions Approved by Major Occupation Group of Beneficiary and Type 

of Petition (Number): Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011

All

Beneficiaries

Initial

Employment

Continuing

Employment

Occupational Category FY2010 FY2011 FY2010 FY2011 FY2010 FY2011

Number Number Number Number Number Number

Total 192,990 269,653 76,627 106,445 116,363 163,208

Occupation known 191,165 265,365 75,825 105,395 115,340 159,970

Computer-related occupations 90,802 134,873 31,661 51,570 59,141 83,303

Occupations in Architecture, Engineering

 and Surveying 19,781 29,695 7,869 11,950 11,912 17,745

Occupations in Education 19,713 24,321 8,626 9,081 11,087 15,240

Occupations in Administrative Specializations 16,516 21,240 7,637 9,553 8,879 11,687

Occupations in Medicine and Health 14,997 18,704 6,224 6,037 8,773 12,667

Managers and Officials N.E.C.* 6,744 7,341 2,999 3,187 3,745 4,154

Occupations in Life Sciences 5,102 6,375 2,466 2,992 2,636 3,383

Occupations in Mathematics and Physical

 Sciences 4,480 5,968 1,945 2,450 2,535 3,518

Miscellaneous Professional, Technical, and 

 Managerial 4,013 4,944 1,819 2,315 2,194 2,629

Occupations in Social Sciences 4.011 4,928 1,911 2,346 2,100 2,582

Occupations in Art 2,116 3,013 1,084 1,577 1,032 1,436

Occupations in Law and Jurisprudence 1,136 1,325 562 692 574 633

Occupations in Writing 745 943 385 486 360 457

Fashion Models 250 761 194 676 56 85

Occupations in Entertainment and Recreation 452 556 249 270 203 286

Occupations in Museum, Library & Archival 

Sciences 147 202 71 93 76 109

Occupations in Religion and Theology 160 176 123 120 37 56

Occupation unknown 1,825 4,288 802 1,050 1,023 3,238

Notes: Occupations ranked based on 2011 data. 

*N.E.C. indicates not elsewhere classified.
13

Table 8B. H-1B Petitions Approved by Major Occupation Group of Beneficiary and Type 

of Petition (Percent): Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011

All 

Beneficiaries

Initial

Employment

Continuing 

Employment

Occupational Category FY2010 FY2011 FY2010 FY2011 FY2010 FY2011

Number Number Number Number Number Number

Occupation known 100 100 100 100 100 100

Computer-related occupations 47.5 50.8 41.8 48.9 51.3 52.1

Occupations in Architecture, Engineering, 

 and Surveying 10.3 11.2 10.4 11.3 10.3 11.1

Occupations in Education 10.3 9.2 11.4 8.6 9.6 9.5

Occupations in Administrative Specializations 8.6 8.0 10.1 9.1 7.7 7.3

Occupations in Medicine and Health 7.8 7.0 8.2 5.7 7.6 7.9

Managers and Officials N.E.C.* 3.5 2.8 4.0 3.0 3.2 2.6

Occupations in Life Sciences 2.7 2.4 3.3 2.8 2.3 2.1

Occupations in Mathematics and 

 Physical Sciences 2.3 2.2 2.6 2.3 2.2 2.2

Miscellaneous Professional, 

Technical, and Managerial 2.1 1.9 2.4 2.2 1.9 1.6

Occupations in Social Sciences 2.1 1.9 2.5 2.2 1.8 1.6

Occupations in Art 1.1 1.1 1.4 1.5 0.9 0.9

Occupations in Law and Jurisprudence 0.6 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.4

Occupations in Writing 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.3

Fashion Models 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.0 0.1

Occupations in Entertainment and Recreation 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2

Occupations in Museum, Library, & Archival

 Sciences 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

Occupations in Religion and Theology 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.0

Occupation unknown ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------

Notes: Occupations ranked based on 2011 data. 

Sum of the percent may not add to 100 due to rounding.

Percentages shown in the table are based on the total number of petitions approved with known 

occupations.

*N.E.C. indicates not elsewhere classified.
14

Detailed Occupation

Tables 9A and 9B indicate the distribution of beneficiaries by detailed occupational category in 

FYs 2010 and 2011. Each table shows occupations arranged in descending order by the total 

number of beneficiaries approved in FY 2011. The percentage of petitions filed in each 

occupational category in 2011 were similar to the percentage of petitions filed in each 

occupational category in 2010. The list is limited to the top 20 categories. Almost 44 percent of 

approved petitions in 2011 were for aliens working as systems analysts or programmers. The 

second largest category was occupations in college and university education.

Table 9A. H-1B Petitions Approved by Detailed Occupation of Beneficiary and Type of 

Petition (Number): Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011

All

Beneficiaries

Initial

Employment

Continuing 

Employment

Occupational Category FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2010 FY 2011

Number Number Number Number Number Number

Total 192,900 269,653 76,627 106,445 116,363 163,208

Occupation known 191,151 265,346 75,818 105,384 115,333 159,962

Occupations in Systems Analysis and Programming 78,440 116,236 27,560 44,912 50,880 71,324

Occupations in College and University Education 14,209 17,859 6,695 7,397 7,514 10,462

Computer-Related Occupations, N.E.C.* 9,331 13,901 3,031 4,696 6,300 9,205

Electrical/Electronics Engineering Occupations 7,084 11,400 3,002 4,831 4,082 6,569

Accountants, Auditors, and Related Occupations 6,712 8,750 2,890 3,658 3,822 5,092

Physicians and Surgeons 6,815 8,649 2,631 2,655 4,184 5,994

Mechanical Engineering Occupations 3,321 5,070 1,281 1,940 2,040 3,130

Occupations in Biological Sciences 3,729 4,683 1,816 2,218 1,913 2,465

Misc Professional, Technical, and Managerial 

 Occupations, N.E.C.* 3,651 4,467 1,629 2,098 2,022 2,369

Occupations in Economics 3,606 4,352 1,672 1,991 1,934 2,361

Occupations in Administrative Specializations, N.E.C.* 3,415 4,295 1,734 2,021 1,681 2,274

Budget and management Systems Analysis Occupations 3,075 4,028 1,382 1,874 1,693 2,154

Occupations in Architecture, Engineering, and Surveying, 

 N.E.C.* 2,737 3,937 1,103 1,662 1,634 2,275

Miscellaneous Managers and Officials, N.E.C.* 3,612 3,762 1,655 1,613 1,957 2,149

Occupations in Medicine and Health, N.E.C.* 3,206 3,654 1,718 1,603 1,448 2,051

Therapists 2,105 2,783 925 869 1,180 1,914

Industrial Engineering Occupations 1,769 2,630 651 1,102 1,118 1,528

Occupations in Data Communications and Networks 1,799 2,555 650 1,066 1,149 1,489

Occupations in Secondary School Education 2,243 2,523 795 632 1,448 1,891

Occupations in Preschool, Primary School, and 

 Kindergarten Education 1,984 2,520 644 537 1,340 1,983

Other Occupations 28,308 37,292 12,354 16,009 15,954 21,283

Occupation Unknown 1,839 4,307 809 1,061 1,030 3,246

Notes: Occupations ranked on 2011 data.

 *N.E.C. indicates not elsewhere classified. 
15

Table 9B. H-1B Petitions Approved by Detailed Occupation of Beneficiary

and Type of Petition (Percent): Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011

All

Beneficiaries

Initial

Employment

Continuing 

Employment

Occupational Category FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2010 FY 2011

Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent

Total ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------

Occupation known 100 100 100 100 100 100

Occupations in Systems Analysis and 

 Programming 41.0 43.8 36.4 42.6 44.1 44.6

Occupations in College and University Education 7.4 6.7 8.8 7.0 6.5 6.5

Computer-Related Occupations, N.E.C.* 4.9 5.2 4.0 4.5 5.5 5.8

Electrical/Electronics Engineering Occupations 3.7 4.3 4.0 4.6 3.5 4.1

Accountants, Auditors, and Related Occupations 3.5 3.3 3.8 3.5 3.3 3.2

Physicians and Surgeons 3.6 3.3 3.5 2.5 3.6 3.7

Mechanical Engineering Occupations 1.7 1.9 1.7 1.8 1.8 2.0

Occupations in Biological Sciences 2.0 1.8 2.4 2.1 1.7 1.5

Misc Professional, Technical, and Managerial 

 Occupations, N.E.C.* 1.9 1.7 2.1 2.0 1.8 1.5

Occupations in Economics 1.9 1.6 2.2 1.9 1.7 1.5

Occupations in Administrative Specializations, 

 N.E.C.* 1.8 1.6 2.3 1.9 1.5 1.4

Budget and Management Systems Analysis 

 Occupations 1.6 1.5 1.8 1.8 1.5 1.3

Occupations in Architecture, Engineering, and 

 Surveying, N.E.C.* 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.4 1.4

Miscellaneous Managers and Officials, N.E.C.* 1.9 1.4 2.2 1.5 1.7 1.3

Occupations in Medicine And Health, N.E.C.* 1.7 1.4 2.3 1.5 1.3 1.3

Therapists 1.1 1.0 1.2 0.8 1.0 1.2

Industrial Engineering Occupations 0.9 1.0 0.9 1.0 1.0 1.0

Occupations in Data Communication and 

 Networks 0.9 1.0 0.9 1.0 1.0 0.9

Occupations in Secondary School Education 1.2 1.0 1.0 0.6 1.3 1.2

Occupations in Preschool, Primary School, and 

 Kindergarten Education 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.5 1.2 1.2

Other Occupations 14.8 14.1 16.3 15.2 13.8 13.3

Occupation Unknown ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------

Notes: Occupations ranked on 2011 data.

 Sum of the percent may not add to 100 due to rounding.

 Percentages shown in the table are based on the total number of petitions approved with known occupations.

 * N.E.C. indicates not elsewhere classified.
16

Section 3.6 – Distribution of petitions by annual compensation14

Tables 10, 11, and 12 show compensation by occupation for beneficiaries of all, initial, and 

continuing employment, respectively. Each table shows occupations arranged in descending 

order by the total number of beneficiaries approved in FY 2011. As shown in Table 10, the 

median annual compensation reported by employers of H-1B workers approved for 

employment during FY 2011 was $70,000. This number compares with $68,000 in 2010. 

Half were expected to earn between $57,000 and $90,000. Median compensation ranged 

from a low of $36,000 for occupations in religion and theology to a high of $100,000 for 

fashion models.

Table 10. Annual Compensation ($) of All H-1B Beneficiaries by Major Occupation 

Group: Fiscal Year 2011 (Approvals)

Total 25th Median Mean 75th

Occupation Reported Percentile Percentile

Total 267,487 57,000 70,000 78,000 90,000

Known Occupations with annual compensation 263,300 57,000 70,000 78,000 90,000

Computer-related occupations 134,415 60,000 72,000 78,000 90,000

Occupations in Architecture, Engineering, and

 Surveying 29,510 64,000 78,000 82,000 95,000

Occupations in Education 24,100 41,000 49,000 58,000 64,000

Occupations in Administrative Specializations 20,970 48,000 62,000 73,000 89,000

Occupations in Medicine and Health 18,109 51,000 65,000 98,000 130,000

Managers and Officials N.E.C.* 7,298 60,000 90,000 101,000 120,000

Occupations in Life Sciences 6,338 41,000 49,000 58,000 66,000

Occupations in Mathematics and Physical Sciences 5,935 55,000 75,000 79,000 95,000

Miscellaneous Professional, Technical, and Managerial 4,914 55,000 80,000 89,000 115,000

Occupations in Social Sciences 4,874 51,000 75,000 87,000 105,000

Occupations in Art 2,974 40,000 50,000 59,000 70,000

Occupations in Law and Jurisprudence 1,312 51,000 97,000 117,000 165,000

Occupations in Writing 926 35,000 47,000 53,000 65,000

Fashion Models 703 70,000 104,000 157,000 208,000

Occupations in Entertainment and Recreation 548 29,000 39,000 49,000 61,000

Occupations in Museum, Library, and Archival Sciences 200 41,000 52,000 58,000 62,000

Occupations in Religion and Theology 174 27,000 36,000 42,000 53,000

Occupation unknown 4,187 60,000 64,000 73,000 78,000

Notes: Occupations ranked by number of beneficiaries. * N.E.C. indicates not elsewhere classified.

Definitions: Median is the middle ranking value (50th percentile) of all values. Mean is the average of all 

values.

25th percentile and 75th percentile are the lower quarter and upper quarter ranking values, respectively. 

 

14 Annual compensation refers to what the employer agreed to pay the beneficiary at the time the application was 

filed. The amount excludes non-cash compensation and benefits such as health insurance and transportation. 

Further, compensation is based on full-time employment for 12 months, even if the beneficiary worked fewer than 

12 months.
17

As revealed in Tables 11 and 12, beneficiaries for continuing employment reported higher annual 

compensation than did beneficiaries for initial employment. Median annual compensation was 

$75,000 for the former and $62,000 for the latter. In FY 2011 workers approved for continuing 

employment and initial employment reported mean annual compensation of $82,000 and 

$72,000 respectively.

Table 11. Annual Compensation ($) of H-1B Beneficiaries for Initial Employment

by Major Occupation Group: Fiscal Year 2011 (Approvals)

Total 25th Median Mean 75th

Occupation Reported Percentile Percentile

Total 105,630 53,000 62,000 72,000 80,000

Known Occupations with annual compensation 104,617 53,000 62,000 72,000 80,000

Computer-related occupations 51,421 60,000 64,000 70,000 76,000

Occupations in Architecture, Engineering, and

 Surveying 11,860 60,000 72,000 79,000 90,000

Occupations in Administrative Specializations 9,395 44,000 55,000 67,000 75,000

Occupations in Education 9,012 39,000 46,000 56,000 60,000

Occupations in Medicine and Health 5,913 47,000 57,000 93,000 116,000

Managers and Officials N.E.C.* 3,164 53,000 81,000 103,000 123,000

Occupations in Life Sciences 2,977 40,000 47,000 56,000 62,000

Occupations in Mathematics and Physical Sciences 2,436 52,000 70,000 74,000 90,000

Occupations in Social Sciences 2,320 45,000 65,000 78,000 95,000

Miscellaneous Professional, Technical, and Managerial 2,297 50,000 70,000 82,000 100,000

Occupations in Art 1,556 37,000 45,000 54,000 60,000

Occupations in Law and Jurisprudence 682 45,000 85,000 106,000 160,000

Fashion Models 628 73,000 104,000 155,000 208,000

Occupations in Writing 477 32,000 43,000 51,000 60,000

Occupations in Entertainment and Recreation 268 25,000 35,000 43,000 51,000

Occupations in Religion and Theology 118 27,000 36,000 41,000 50,000

Occupations in Museum, Library, and Archival Sciences 93 38,000 48,000 58,000 61,000

Occupation unknown 1,013 45,000 60,000 77,000 76,000

Notes: Occupations ranked by the number of beneficiaries.

* N.E.C. indicates not elsewhere classified.

Definitions: Median is the middle ranking value (50th percentile) of all values. 

 Mean is the average of all values.

 25th percentile and 75th percentile are the lower quarter and upper quarter ranking values, respectively.

 
18

Table 12. Annual Compensation ($) of H-1B Beneficiaries for Continuing Employment by 

Major Occupation Group: Fiscal Year 2011 (Approvals)

Total 25th Median Mean 75th

Occupation Reported Percentile Percentile

Total 161,857 60,000 75,000 82,000 95,000

Known Occupations with annual compensation 158,683 60,000 75,000 82,000 95,000

Computer-related occupations 82,994 64,000 79,000 83,000 95,000

Occupations in Architecture, Engineering, and

 Surveying 17,650 68,000 80,000 84,000 96,000

Occupations in Education 15,088 43,000 50,000 59,000 66,000

Occupations in Medicine and Health 12,196 53,000 70,000 100,000 133,000

Occupations in Administrative Specializations 11,575 52,000 70,000 78,000 95,000

Managers and Officials N.E.C.* 4,134 65,000 94,000 100,000 120,000

Occupations in Mathematics and Physical Sciences 3,499 60,000 78,000 82,000 98,000

Occupations in Life Sciences 3,361 43,000 51,000 59,000 70,000

Miscellaneous Professional, Technical, and Managerial 2,617 61,000 89,000 95,000 121,000

Occupations in Social Sciences 2,554 60,000 86,000 96,000 120,000

Occupations in Art 1,418 42,000 56,000 64,000 80,000

Occupations in Law and Jurisprudence 630 62,000 117,000 129,000 185,000

Occupations in Writing 449 39,000 50,000 55,000 68,000

Occupations in Entertainment and Recreation 280 33,000 45,000 55,000 71,000

Occupations in Museum, Library, and Archival Sciences 107 43,000 54,000 57,000 64,000

Fashion Models 75 70,000 104,000 166,000 250,000

Occupations in Religion and Theology 56 27,000 38,000 43,000 54,000

Occupation unknown 3,174 61,000 65,000 71,000 78,000

Notes: Occupations ranked by the number of beneficiaries.

 * N.E.C. indicates not elsewhere classified.

Definitions: Median is the middle ranking value (50th percentile) of all values. 

 Mean is the average of all values.

 25th percentile and 75th percentile are the lower quarter and upper quarter ranking values, respectively.
19

Section 3.7 – Distribution of petitions by industry

Tables 13A and 13B show the industries that employed the most H-1B workers in FYs 2010

and 2011. The number of workers approved for all known industries increased 38 percent 

from 179,195 in FY 2010 to 247,557 in FY 2011. Of the 20 leading industries, only securities 

and commodity contracts intermediation and brokerage showed a decline in FY 2011.

Industry data are collected using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). 

Unlike country of birth, age, education, and occupation, USCIS does not verify the NAICS code, 

since the sponsor does not provide supporting documentation. 
20

Table 13A. H-1B Petitions Approved by Detailed Industry and Type of Petition 

(Number) Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011

Notes: Industries ranked by total beneficiaries in 2011.

 NAICS stands for North American Industry Classification System.

 

All 

Beneficiaries

Initial 

Employment

Continuing 

Employment

FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2010 FY 2011

Industry Number Number Number Number Number Number

Total 192,990 269,653 76,627 106,445 116,363 163,208

Industry known 179,195 247,557 70,674 97,121 108,521 150,436

Computer Systems Design &

 Related Services 64,624 97,713 23,821 40,077 40,803 57,636

Colleges, Universities, &

 Professional Schools 19,162 23,802 8,852 9,630 10,310 14,172

Management, Scientific, & Technical 

 Consulting Services 6,735 10,190 2,886 4,939 3,849 5,251

Architectural, Engineering, & Related

 Services 5,719 8,087 2,087 3,035 3,632 5,052

Software Publishers 4,605 6,961 2,097 2,436 2,508 4,525

General Medical and Surgical 

 Hospitals 5,607 6,954 2,303 2,267 3,304 4,687

Semiconductor & Other Electronic 

 Component Manufacturing 3,867 5,946 1,742 2,629 2,125 3,317

Scientific Research and 

 Development Services 4,644 5,416 2,104 2,345 2,540 3,071

Elementary and Secondary Schools 4,709 5,388 1,533 1,136 3,176 4,252

Securities & Commodity Contracts 

 Intermediation & Brokerage 5,094 4,942 1,880 1,770 3,214 3,172

Accounting, Tax Preparation, 

 Bookkeeping, & Payroll Services 2,707 4,258 1,205 1,701 1,502 2,557

Computer and Peripheral Equipment 

 Manufacturing 2,992 4,153 935 1,250 2,057 2,903

Communications Equipment 

 Manufacturing 2,092 3,338 786 987 1,306 2,351

Offices of Physicians 2,514 3,300 947 1,057 1,567 2,243

Other Financial Investment Activities 2,191 2,726 848 1,013 1,343 1,713

Offices of Other Health Practitioners 1,694 1,948 781 640 913 1,308

Other Professional, Scientific, & 

 Technical Services 1,451 1,939 689 847 762 1,092

Depository Credit Intermediation 1,312 1,790 302 517 1,010 1,273

Pharmaceutical and Medicine 

 Manufacturing 1,222 1,692 406 540 816 1,152

Advertising and Related Services 1,041 1,550 477 752 564 798

Other industries 35,213 45,464 13,993 17,553 21,220 27,911

Industry unknown 13,795 22,096 5,953 9,324 7,842 12,772
21

Table 13B. H-1B Petitions Approved by Detailed Industry and Type of Petition 

(Percent) Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011

 

All 

Beneficiaries

Initial 

Employment

Continuing 

Employment

FY2010 FY2011 FY2010 FY2011 FY2010 FY2011

Industry Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent

Total ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------

Industry known 100 100 100 100 100 100

Computer Systems Design & 

 Related Services 36.1 39.5 33.7 41.3 37.6 38.3

Colleges, Universities & 

 Professional Schools 10.7 9.6 12.5 9.9 9.5 9.4

Management, Scientific & Technical 

 Consulting Services 3.8 4.1 4.1 5.1 3.5 3.5

Architectural, Engineering & 

 Related Services 3.2 3.3 3.0 3.1 3.3 3.4

Software Publishers 2.6 2.8 3.0 2.5 2.3 3.0

General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 3.1 2.8 3.3 2.3 3.0 3.1

Semiconductor & Other Electronic 

 Component Manufacturing 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.7 2.0 2.2

Scientific Research and Development 

 Services 2.6 2.2 3.0 2.4 2.3 2.0

Elementary and Secondary Schools 2.6 2.2 2.2 1.2 2.9 2.8

Securities & Commodity Contracts 

 Intermediation & Brokerage 2.8 2.0 2.7 1.8 3.0 2.1

Accounting, Tax Preparation, 

 Bookkeeping, & Payroll Services 1.5 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.4 1.7

Computer and Peripheral 

 Equipment Manufacturing 1.7 1.7 1.3 1.3 1.9 1.9

Communications Equipment Manufacturing 1.2 1.3 1.1 1.0 1.2 1.6

Offices of Physicians 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.1 1.4 1.5

Other Financial Investment Activities 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.0 1.2 1.1

Offices of Other Health Practitioners 0.9 0.8 1.1 0.7 0.8 0.9

Other Professional, Scientific & 

 Technical Services 0.8 0.8 1.0 0.9 0.7 0.7

Depository Credit Intermediation 0.7 0.7 0.4 0.5 0.9 0.8

Pharmaceutical and Medicine

 Manufacturing 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.8

Advertising and Related Services 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.5 0.5

Other industries 19.7 18.4 19.8 18.1 19.6 18.6

Industry unknown ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------

Notes: Industries ranked by total beneficiaries in 2011.

 Sum of the percent may not add to 100 due to rounding.

 Percentages shown are based on the total number of petitions approved with industry known.

 NAICS stands for North American Industry Classification System
22

IV. Appendices

A. H-1B petition processing

Petitions for obtaining H-1B nonimmigrant status for alien workers are submitted by their 

prospective employers on USCIS Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, the H 

Classification Supplement to Form I-129, and the H-1B Data Collection and Filing Fee 

Exemption Supplement. The petitions are generally mailed to one of two USCIS Service 

Centers (St. Albans, Vermont, or Laguna Niguel, California) for processing, depending on the 

location of the beneficiary’s worksite.

Upon receipt of a properly filed petition,15 each petition is stamped with its date of arrival at the 

service center. A clerk creates a paper file that contains the original petition as well as all 

supporting documentation. This file becomes the official file of record for all activities 

connected with the petition.

Biographical data, such as name, date of birth, and country of birth, is taken from the petition 

and entered by data entry clerks into the case tracking system Computer-Linked Application 

Information Management System (CLAIMS3). The computer system generates a unique receipt 

number for the file. After being sorted into potential cap subject and cap exempt cases, the file is 

assigned to an adjudicator. 

The adjudicator evaluates whether there is adequate information in the file to approve or deny 

the petition, or whether a need for further information warrants a request for evidence or 

initiation of an administrative investigation. If sufficient evidence is available, the adjudicator 

makes a decision and enters the corresponding information into the tracking system. In the case 

of insufficient evidence, the adjudicator requests additional information from the sponsoring 

employer. The employer must respond to the request within a set period of time or the petition 

will be denied. 

After petitions are adjudicated, the supporting documentation are forwarded to either the USCIS 

records center in Harrisonburg, Virginia for storage or the Kentucky Consular Center in 

Williamsburg, Kentucky, for consular processing. 

B. Data Limitations

The data for the tables in this report have been extracted from a USCIS Service Center electronic 

data file. As such, errors in data may have occurred as a result of erroneous data submitted by 

the petitioner, initial data entry errors at service centers, or improper electronic transfer from the 

 

15 Petitions that are improperly filed (e.g., submitted without the correct supplements, proper signatures, or required 

fees) may be rejected by the service center. Rejected petitions are returned to the petitioner with any submitted fees. 

See 8 CFR 103.2(a)(7).
23

service centers to USCIS Headquarters. Accordingly, some data elements in the above tables are 

“unknown.”

Minimal editing has been done to the data in this file and impossible or highly improbable values 

(such as beneficiaries younger than 16, except for fashion models) or beneficiaries (such as those 

working without compensation) have been defined as “unknown.” Information in electronic 

format is not available regarding the cities or states where H-1B workers are employed.