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 2015. As shown in Table 10, the
median annual compensation reported by employers of H-1B workers approved for employment
during FY 2015 was $79,000. The median annual compensation was $75,000 in FY 2014.
Median compensation ranged from a low of $39,000 for occupations in religion and theology to
a high of $124,000 for law and jurisprudence occupations.

Table 10. Annual Compensation ($) of All H-1B Beneficiaries by Major Occupation
Group: FY 2015 (Approvals)'*

Total 2s Median = Mean 75"

Occupation Reported | Percentile Percentile
Total 274,581 65,000 79,000 88,000 102,000
Known Occupations with annual compensation 273,651 65,000 79,000 88,000 102,000
Computer-related Occupations 182,832 67,000 80,000 87,000 100,000
Occupations in Architecture, Engineering, and Surveying 23,785 69,000 85,000 91,000 106,000
Occupation in Administrative Specializations 16,532 55,000 71,000 82,000 100,000
Occupations in Education 15,065 45,000 55,000 67,000 75,000
Occupations in Medicine and Health 11,365 57,000 83,000 123,000 180,000
Occupations in Mathematics and Physical Sciences 4,906 63,000 80,000 87,000 105,000
Managers and Officials 4,095 73,000 104,000 116,000 138,000
Occupations in Life Sciences 4,108 45,000 54,000 64,000 75,000
Occupations in Social Sciences 3,458 58,000 83,000 93,000 115,000
Miscellaneous Professional, Technical, and Managerial near 72,000 95,000 103,000 131,000
Occupations .
Occupations in Art 1,889 45,000 60,000 73,000 84,000
Occupations in Law and Jurisprudence 863 60,000 125,000 124,000 170,000
Occupations in Writing 421 37,000 50,000 58,000 72,000
Miscellaneous 351 38,000 50,000 60,000 72,000
Occupations in Entertainment and Recreation 133 30,000 46,000 56,000 61,000
Occupations in Museum, Library, and Archival Sciences 147 48,000 60,000 78,000 82,000
Occupations in Religion and Theology - 85 29,000 39,000 42,000 53,000
Sales Promotion Occupations 23 28,000 104,000 — 130,000 208,000
Occupation unknown 930 54,000 75,000 87,000 102,000

Notes: Occupations ranked by number of beneficiaries.
*N.E.C. indicates not elsewhere classified.
Definitions: Median is the middle ranking value (50" percentile) of all values.
Mean is the average of all values.
25" percentile and 75" percentile are the lower quarter and upper quarter ranking values, respectively.

'6 The Fiscal Year 2012 report reflects detailed occupational groups, whereas the Fiscal Year 2010, 2011, 2013,
2014, and 2015 reports reflect major occupational groups, which capture data on the general categories of H-1B
positions.

16



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
mostly constant between FYs 2014 and 2015. As shown in Table 6, 45 percent of all H-1B
petitions approved for workers in FY 2015 reported that the beneficiary had earned the
equivalent of a bachelor’s degree, 44 percent a master’s degree, seven percent a doctorate, and
three percent a professional degree.

Table 6. Percent of H-1B Petitions Approved by Level of Education:
FYs 2012-2015

Level of Education FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015

Education known 100 100 100 100
Less than a Bachelor's degree 1 1 1 1
Bachelor's degree 46 45 45 45
Master's degree 41 4l 43 44
Doctorate degree 8 9 8 7
Professional degree 4 3 4 3

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 2015

Level of Education All Percent Initial Percent Continuing Percent
Beneficiaries Employment Employment

Total 275.317 113,603 161,714
Education known 275,294 100 113,589 100 161,705 100
No high school diploma 52 0.02 25 0.02 27 0.02
High school graduate 148 0.05 69 0.06 79 0.05
Less than 1 year of college credit 25 0.01 12 0.01 13 0.01
cei aaa 2320.08 89 0.08 1430.09
Associate's degree 189 0.07 72 0.06 117 0.07
Bachelor's degree 123,143 45 49,265 43 73,878 46
Master's degree 121,549 44 48,317 43 73,232 45
Doctorate degree 20,633 a 11,722 10 8,911
Professional degree 9,323 3 4,018 4 5,305 3
Education unknown 23 eretee 14 — 9

Notes: Sum of the percent may not add to 100 due to rounding.
Percentages shown in the table are based on the number of approved petitions with known levels of
education.

10



Table 13A. H-1B Petitions Approved by Detailed Industry and Type of Petition
(Number) FYs 2014 and 2015

All Initial Continuing
Beneficiaries Employment Employment
FY 2014 FY 2015 | FY2014 FY 2015] FY2014 FY 2015
Industry Number _Number | Number _ Number | Number Number
Total 315,857 275,317 | 124,326 113,603 | 191,531 161,714
Industry known 277,300 250,685 | 113,288 102,187] 164,012 148,498
‘Cigiom Computer Prograiaming 98,681 86,775 | 45,127 38,004] 53,554 = 48,771
Services
Computer System Design Services 32,198 28,974 11,488 9,371 20,710 19,603
Colleges, Universities, and
Professional Schools 18,684 15,777 9,086 9,151 9,598 6,626
Computer Systems Design and
Related Services 8,318 5,514 3,999 2,155 4,319 3,359
Software Publishers 6,921 6,870 2,506 2,703 4,415 4,167
Other Computer Related Services 5,880 5,215 2,379 2,019 3,501 3,196
Engineering Services 5,826 5,818 2,686 2,543 3,140 3,275
General Medical and Surgical 5,566 4,495 2,021 2,052 3,545 2,443
Hospitals * id * ° * ”
Management, Scientific, and
Technical Consulting Services aad aa2BS 2,986 788 2,454 1A97
Administrative Management and
General Management Consulting 3,112 2,957 1,159 1,343 1,953 1,614
Services
Electronic Computer Manufacturing 2,960 3,422 954 1,073 2,006 2,349
Elementary and Secondary Schools 2,864 2,338 7710 888 2,094 1,450
— Banking and Securities 2,769 3,813 780 1,191 1,989 2,622
ealing
Offices of Physicians (except Mental
Health Specialists) 2,742 2,116 810 113 1,932 1,403
Semiconductor and Related Device 2,609 1,972 824 166 1,785 1,206
Manufacturing
Semiconductor and Other Electronic 2,480 1,915 836 113 1,644 1,202
Component Manufacturing
Research and Development in the
Physical, Engineering, and Life 2,361 1,828 1,036 915 1,325 913
Sciences
Offices of Certified Public
‘Accountants 2,274 2,327 791 1,096 1,483 1,231
Radio arid Television Broadcasting
and Wireless Communications 2,202 1,611 7 482 1,491 1,129
Equipment Manufacturing
Offices of Other Holding Companies 1,312 1,279 260 360 1,052 919
Other Industries”? 62,101 62,384 22,079 22,867 40,022 39,523
Industry unknown 38,557 24,632 11,038 11,416 27,519 13,216

Notes: Industries ranked by total beneficiaries in FY 2015.

9 See footnote 19.

20



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:”

[T]he Attorney General’ shall 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)(G)(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act during

the previous fiscal year.

? Sections 416(c)(1) and (3) of ACWIA, Pub. L. No. 105-277, div. C, tit. IV, 112 Stat. 2681, require 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)(1) of the INA. This data is included in the “Report on H-IB
Petitions” for Fiscal Year 2015.

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 Jmmigration 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 USC 557 (2003) (codifying HSA, Title XV, § 1517).



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
$78,000 for the former and $87,000 for the latter. In FY 2015 workers approved for continuing
employment and initial employment reported mean annual compensation of $95,000 and

$78,000 respectively.

Table 11, Annual Compensation ($) of H-1B Beneficiaries for Initial Employment
by Major Occupation Group: FY 2015 (Approvals)"”

Total as Median = Mean 75"

Occupation Reported _| Percentile Percentile
Total 113,282 60,000 70,000 78,000 86,000
Known Occupations with annual compensation 112,914 60,000 66,000 78,000 86,000
Computer-related occupations 70,819 63,000 70,000 77,000 84,000
Occupations in Architecture, Engineering, and Surveying 9,955 62,000 75,000 82,000 95,000
Occupations in Education 8,368 44,000 55,000 66,000 75,000
Occupations in Administrative Specializations 7,837 50,000 60,000 71,000 84,000
Occupations in Medicine and Health 4,587 53,000 68,000 115,000 170,000
Occupations in Mathematics and Physical Sciences 2,437 60,000 72,000 80,000 95,000
Occupations in Life Sciences 2,289 44,000 51,000 59,000 65,000
Managers and Officials 1,545 65,000 90,000 111,000 125,000
Occupations in Social Sciences 1,653 50,000 70,000 80,000 100,000
Miscellancous Professional, Technical, and Managerial
Occupations 6 1827 62,000 81,000 93,000 ‘120,000
Occupations in Art 886 41,000 54,000 62,000 70,000
Occupations in Law and Jurisprudence 453 52,000 105,000 114,000 160,000
Occupations in Writing 216 33,000 44,000 50,000 60,000
Miscellaneous 134 34,000 43,000 50,000 60,000
Occupations in Entertainment and Recreation 66 30,000 40,000 52,000 50,000
Occupations in Museum, Library, and Archival Sciences 80 45,000 56,000 71,000 80,000
Occupations in Religion and Theology 43 29,000 39,000 43,000 55,000
Sales Promotion Occupations 19 28,000 150,000 142,000 208,000
Occupation unknown 368 48,000 61,000 73,000 82,000

Notes: Occupations ranked by the number of beneficiaries.
Definitions: Median is the middle ranking value (50" percentile) of all values.

Mean is the average of all values.
ast percentile and 7. ise percentile are the lower quarter and upper quarter ranking values, respectively.

17 "The FY 2012 report reflects detailed occupational groups, whereas the FY 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015
reports reflect major occupational groups, which capture data on the general categories of H-1B positions.

17



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

23



Section 3.7 — Distribution of petitions by industry

Tables 13A and 13B show the top 20 industries that employed H-1B workers in FY 2015.
Industry data are collected using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
The top 20 industries listed in Tables 13A and 13B represent nearly 91 percent of H-1B workers
approved for all known industry categories as determined by the NAICS code entered on Form I-
129.'° The number of workers approved for all known industries decreased 10 percent from

277,300 in FY 2014 to 250,685 in FY 2015.

'° The remaining known industries for which H-1B workers were approved are captured in the “Other Industries”
category in Tables 13A and 13B. For FY 2015, H-1B workers were approved for just over 1,400 unique industry
categories as determined by the NAICS code entered on the Form 1-129. Unlike country of birth, age, education,
and occupation, USCIS does not verify the NAICS code.



Detailed Occupation

Tables 9A and 9B indicate the distribution of beneficiaries by detailed occupational category in
FYs 2014 and 2015. Each table shows occupations arranged in descending order by the total
number of beneficiaries approved in FY 2015. The list is limited to the top 20 categories.

56 percent of approved petitions in 2015 were for aliens working as systems analysts or

programmers. Aside from the “Other Occupations” category, the second largest category was

computer-related occupations.

Table 9A. H-1B Petitions Approved by Detailed Occupation of Beneficiary and Type of
Petition (Number): FYs 2014 and 2015

All Initial Continuing

Beneficiaries Employment Employment
Occupational Category FY2014 FY 2015 | FY2014 FY2015 | FY2014 FY 2015
Number Number | Number Number | Number Number
Total 315,857 275,317 | 124,326 113,603 | 191,531 161,714
Occupation known 315,814 275,317 | 124,295 113,603] 191,519 161,714
Occupations in Systems Analysis and Programming 170,966 154,549 | 68,791 60,126 | 102,175 94,423
Computer-Related Occupations, N.E.C.* 26,610 23,920 9,881 8,876 | 16,729 15,044
Occupations in College and University Education 14,402 12,239 7,274 7,224 7,128 5,015
Electrical/Electronics Engineering Occupations 11,350 8,975 3,849 3,467 7,501 5,508
Accountants, Auditors, and Related Occupations 7,869 6,898 3,039 3,440 4,830 3,458
Physicians and Surgeons 7,327 5,772 2,350 ° 2,344 4,977 3,428
Mechanical Engineering Occupations 5,418 4,657 2,060 1,961 3,358 2,696
Oeeenios in Architecture, Engineering, and Surveying, 3,861 3,149 1,525 1,380 2,336 1,769
Occupations in Administrative Specializations, N.E.C.* 3,857 3,163 1,523 1,349 2,334 1,814
Budget and Management Systems Analysis Occupations 3,810 3,814 1,514 1,848 2,296 1,966
Mee io essiotal Technical, and Managerial Occupations, 3,651 3,437 1,205 1,446 2,446 1,991
Occupations in Biological Sciences 3,498 3,090 1,631 1,762 1,867 1,328
Occupations in Economics 3,485 3,084 1,352 1,429 2,133 1,655
Occupations in Medicine and Health, N.E.C.* 2,914 2,180 1,140 1,047 1,774 1,133
Occupations in Computer System Technical Support 2,893 2,402 1,187 949 1,706 1,453
Miscellaneous Managers and Officials, N.E.C.* 2,862 2,011 873 720 1,989 1,291
Industrial Engineering Occupations 2,573 2,157 975 834 1,598 1,323
Occupations in Data Communications and Networks 2,484 1,944 918 855 1,566 1,089
Occupations in Mathematics 2,393 2,434 955 1,185 1,438 1,249
Therapists 2,222 1,564 658 488 1,564 1,076
Other Occupations 31,369 23,878} 11,595 10,873 | 19,774 13,005
43 i) 31 0 12 0

Occupation Unknown

Notes: Occupations ranked based on FY 2015 data.
*N.E.C. indicates not elsewhere classified.

14



Table 3 provides a breakdown of approved petitions in FYs 2012 to 2015 by type of petition.
113,603 H-1B beneficiaries were approved for initial employment and 161,714 for continuing
employment in FY 2015.

The number of aliens outside the United States approved for initial employment decreased eight
percent from 68,390 in FY 2014 to 62,656 in FY 2015. The corresponding number of petitions
approved for aliens in the United States requesting a change to H-1B status decreased by nine
percent from 55,936 in FY 2014 to 50,947 in FY 2015.

Table 3. H-1B Petitions Approved by Type:
FYs 2012 to 2015

Petitions Approved
Type of Petition FY2012 Percent FY2013 Percent FY2014 — Percent} FY2015 Percent

Total 262,569 100 286,773 100 315,857 100 275,317 100
Initial

employment 136,890 52, 128,291 45 124,326 39 1113,603 41
Aliens outside

US. 74,997 28 68,785 24 68,390 22 | 62,656 23
Aliens in U.S. 61,893 24 59,506 21 55,936 18 | 50,947 19

Continuing
employment 125,679 48 158,482 55 191,531 61 |161,714 59

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.” Of the H-1B
petitions approved in FY 2015, 71 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 10 percent of all beneficiaries. The number of beneficiaries from India
approved for initial employment decreased 13 percent in FY 2015, while the number of
beneficiaries approved for continuing employment decreased 10 percent in FY 2015.

" Data represent countries and territories of birth.



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 Department of State (DOS), which determines whether a
prospective alien employee is eligible for issuance of a visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate
abroad after the H-1B petition has been approved by USCIS. Determinations of whether to
admit an alien in H-1B status are made by U.S. Customs and Border Protection 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.® 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, unless otherwise exempt.” 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 six-year 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 aliens who
could be issued H-1B visas or otherwise provided H-1B status 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 also 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)(A)-(B), 8 USC 1184(g)(5)(A)-(B).

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

* 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)(ii)(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.



Il. Background

An H-1B temporary worker is an alien admitted to the United States to perform services in a
“specialty occupation.”

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 of
an exceptional nature 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 Department of Labor (DOL) and then
file an H-1B petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USCIS).° 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
USS. 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).

* Section 214(i)(1) of the INA, 8 USC 1184(i)(1), defines a specialty occupation as “an occupation that requires—
(A) 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.”

$ 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).



Table 9B. H-1B Petitions Approved by Detailed Occupation of Beneficiary
and Type of Petition (Percent): FYs 2014 and 2015

All Initial Continuing
Beneficiaries Employment Employment
Occupational Category FY 2014 FY 2015 | FY 2014 FY 2015] FY 2014 FY 2015
Percent Percent | Percent Percent | Percent Percent
Cy ae
Occupation known 100 100 100 100 100 100
Occupations in Systems Analysis and 5a 56 553 529 531 gi
Programming
Computer-Related Occupations, N.E.C.* 84 8.7 19 78 8.7 13.2
Occupations in College and University Education 4.6 44 3.9. 64 Soe] 44
Electrical/Electronics Engineering Occupations 3.6 33 3.1 3.1 3.9 48
Accountants, Auditors, and Related Occupations 25 2.5 24 3.0 2.5 3.0
Physicians and Surgeons 2.3 21 19 21 2.6 3.0
Mechanical Engineering Occupations 1.7 17 17 17 1.8 24
Occupations in Architecture, Engineering, and
Surveying, N-E.C.* 12 Li 12 16
Cestins in Administrative Specializations, 1d id ia 3 13 1g
Budget and Management Systems Analysis 12 Ld 12 1.6 12 17
Occupations
Misc Professional, Technical, and Managerial
Occupations, N.E.C.* 2 (2 10 1 i 18
Occupations in Biological Sciences 1 1 1.3 1.6 1.0 1.2
Occupations in Economics Li 11 Ll 13 11 15
Occupations in Medicine and Health, N.E.C.* 0.9 0.8 09 0.9 0.9 iu 0
peas in Computer System Technical 09 0.9 1.0 08 09 13
upport
Miscellaneous Managers and Officials, N.E.C.* 0.9 0.7 0.7 0.6 1.0 Ld
Industrial Engineering Occupations 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.8 12
Occupations in Data Communications and
‘Networks 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.8 1.0
Occupations in Mathematics 0.8 0.9 0.9 1.0 0.8 Ld
Therapists 0.7 0.6 0.5 04 0.8 0.9
Other Occupations Cr) 8.8 9.3 9.6 10.3 ILS
Occupation Unknown -0.0----- -0.0----- | -0.0-----_ -0.0----- | ----- 0.0-_ ---0,0---

Notes: Occupations ranked based on FY 2015 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 occupation
* N.E.C. indicates not elsewhere classified.

Section 3.6 — Distribution of petitions by annual compensation’®

15 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.

15



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 nine percent and petitions approved decreased by
13 percent between FYs 2014 and 2015. For initial employment, petitions filed increased seven
percent and petitions approved decreased by nine percent. Petitions filed for continuing
employment increased 11 percent and petitions approved decreased by 16 percent.

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

FYs 2012 to 2015
FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015
Petitions filed 307,713 299,467 318,824 348,669
Initial Employment 155,292 130,034 127,205 136,042
Continuing Employment 152,421 169,433 191,619 212,627
Petitions approved" 262,569 286,773 315,857 275,317
Initial Employment 136,890 128,291 124,326 113,603
Continuing Employment 125,679 158,482 191,531 161,714

Table 2 shows the number of H-1B petitions filed by quarter in FYs 2012 to 2015. More than 81
percent of filings for initial employment occurred in the third quarter of FY 2015, when the cap-
subject petition filing season opened. 62 percent of filings for continuing employment were
received in the third and fourth quarters of FY 2015.

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

FYs 2012 to 2015
FY 2015 Percent FY 2015 Percent
Quarter * a aod ais Initial of Total| Continuing of Total
Employment Employment

307,713 299,467 |318,824 |348,669 136,042 100 212,627 100
October-December 65,186 40,048 | 45,211 | 51,964 8,038 6 43,926 21
January-March 36,217 39,433 | 42,781 | 46,088 8,051 6 38,037 18
April-June 150,104 159,380 ]158,623 |176,042 110,411 81 65,631 31
July-September 56,206 60,606 | 72,709 | 74,575 9,542 7 66,033 31

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

1 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.



NAICS stands for North American Industry Classification System.

Table 13B. H-1B Petitions Approved by Detailed Industry and Type of Petition
(Percent) FYs 2014 and 2015

All Initial Continuing
Beneficiaries Employment Employment
FY2014  FY2015 | FY2014 = ==FY2015 | FY2014 FY2015
Industry Percent _ Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
Industry known 87.8 91.1 911 90.0 85.6 91.8
Custom Computer Programming, 31.2 31.5 36.3 33.5 28.0 30.2

Services
Computer System Design Services 10.2 10.5 9.2 8.2 10.8 12.1
Colleges, Universities, and 59 57 13 81 5.0 4a

Professional Schools

Computer Systems Design and Related Services 2.6 2.0 3.2 19 2.3 2.1
Software Publishers 2.2 2.5 2.0 24 2.3 2.6
Other Computer Related Services 1.9 1.9 19 1.8 18 2.0
Engineering Services 18 21 22: 2.2 1.6 2.0
General Medical and Surgical 18 1.6 16 18 19 1s

Hospitals
Management, Scientific, and Technical

Consulting Services 17 12 24 16 13 0.9
Administrative Management and General

Management Consulting Services 1 ie 09 12 10 10
Electronic Computer Manufacturing, 0.9 i] 0.8 09 1.0 LS
Elementary and Secondary Schools 0.9 0.8 0.6 0.8 Ll 0.9
Investment Banking and Securities Dealing 09 14 0.6 1.0 1.0 1.6
Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health 0.9 08 07 06 1.0 09

Specialists)

Semiconductor and Related Device
Manufacturing, 08 oF oF OF vie 07
Semiconductor and other Electronic Component

Manufacturing 08 07 07 0.6 0.9 0.7
Research and Development in the Physical,

Engineering, and Life Sciences a7 a7 a8 08 07 0.6
Offices of Certified Public Accountants 07 0.8 0.6 1.0 0.8 0.8
Radio and Television Broadcasting and

Wireless Communications Equipment 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.4 0.8 0.7

Manufacturing
Offices of Other Holding Companies 04 0.5 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.6
Other Industries 19.7 22.7 17.8 20.1 20.9 24.4
Industry unknown 12.2 8.9 8.9 10.0 14.4 8.2

Notes: Industries ranked by total beneficiaries in FY 2015.
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

21





Table 4B. H-1B Petitions Approved by Country of Birth of Beneficiary and Type of
Petition (Percent): FYs 2014 and 2015

All Beneficiaries

Initial Employment

Continuing Employment

Country of Birth FY 2014 FY 2015 | FY2014 FY 2015 FY 2014 FY 2015
Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent
Total nen emer a!
Country of birth 100 100 100 100 100 100
India 69.7 70.9 66.2 62.7 TA 76.7
China, People's Republic 8.4 97 Il 13.6 6.6 6.9
Canada 2.2 1.3 21 1.6 22 Ll
South Korea 14 1.3 cla 1.6 2.0 1.0
Philippines 1.6 1a 1.6 11 1.2 1.2
United Kingdom 1.0 0.8 1.0 09 Ll 0.8
Taiwan 0.8 0.7 0.8 1.0 09 0.6
Mexico 0.9 0.7 0.9 0.9 0.6 0.6
France 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.6 0.5
Pakistan 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.5
Japan 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.5
Brazil 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.5 0.4
Nepal 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.4
Germany 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.4
Turkey 0.5 04 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.4
Tran 0.0 0.4 04 0.7 0.4 0.2
Russia 04 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.3
Italy 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.3
Venezuela 0.4 0.4 0.5 04 0.3 0.3
Columbia 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.4 04 0.3
Spain 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.2
Other countries 8.1 TS 8.9 9.1 16 63

Notes: Countries of birth are ranked based on FY 2015 data.
Sum of the percent may not add to 100 due to rounding.



Table 4A. H-1B Petitions Approved by Country of Birth of Beneficiary and Type of
Petition (Number): FYs 2014 and 2015

All Beneficiaries

Initial Employment

Continuing Employment

Country of Birth FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2014 FY 2015
Number Number Number Number Number Number
Total 315,857 275,317 124,326 113,603 191,531 161,714
India 220,286 195,247 82,263 71,263 138,023 123,984
China, People's Republic 26,393 26,669 13,708 15,438 12,685 11,231
Canada 6,853 3,607 2,561 1,823 4,292 1,784
South Korea 4,390 3,470 2,012 1,870 2,378 1,600
Philippines 5,157 3,146 1,318 1,215 3,839 1,931
United Kingdom 3,307 2,241 1,211 1,015 2,096 1,226
Taiwan 2,406 2,060 1,176 1,112 1,230 948
Mexico 2,768 2,017 1,038 970 1,730 1,047
France 2,218 1,794 920 906 1,161 888
Pakistan 1,923 1,602 787 749 1,136 853
Japan 1,983 1,398 691 634 1,292 764
Brazil 1,546 1,388 692 751 854 637
Nepal 1,735 1,385 769 666 966 119
Germany 1,625 1,325 751 706 874 619
Turkey 1,619 1,196 672 611 947 585
Tran 0 1,057 0 2B9 0 318
Russia 1,241 1,056 573 550 668 506
Italy 1,283 1,035 634 573 649 462
Venezuela 1,230 976 439 461 791 515
Colombia 1,290 949 447 421 843 528
Spain 1,155 938 573 559 582 379
Other countries 25,449 20,761 11,091 10,371 14,495 10,190

Note: Countries of birth are ranked based on FY 2015 data.



changes to policy and procedure governing the H-1B classification, including providing
temporary increases in the fiscal year limitations on the number of aliens who may be issued
H-1B visas or otherwise provided H-1B status and providing certain exemptions to these
limitations. Under ACWIA, the annual ceiling 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 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.* 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 each fiscal year’s H-1B cap. See INA 214(g)(5)(C), 8 USC

1184(g)(5)(C).

III. Data Report

Section 3.1 — General distribution of petitions

During FY 2015, USCIS approved 275,317 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).

Table 1 shows for FYs 2012 to 2015 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 2015, a total of 113,609 petitions, or 39 percent, were for initial
employment.’ The corresponding number of petitions for continuing employment was 161,714."°
A worker may have had a second (or subsequent) petition filed on his or her behalf to: 1) extend
the period allowed to work with their current employer; 2) notify USCIS of changes in the

8 Rach 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 USC 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)((B).

° 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 an additional
H-1B employer.

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



Table 12. Annual Compensation ($) of H-1B Beneficiaries for Continuing Employment by
Major Occupation Group: FY 2015 (Approvals)'®

Total 2s Median = Mean 75"

Occupation Reported | Percentile Percentile
Total 161,299 70,000 87,000 95,000 110,000
Known Occupations with annual compensation 160,737 70,000 87,000 95,000 110,000
Computer-related occupations 112,013 72,000 88,000 93,000 109,000
Occupations in Architecture, Engineering, and Surveying, 13,830 77,000 91,000 97,000 112,000
Occupations in Administrative Specializations 8,695 61,000 84,000 92,000 115,000
Occupations in Education 6,697 45,000 55,000 69,000 75,000
Occupations in Medicine and Health 6,778 60,000 93,000 129,000 187,000
Managers and Officials 2,550 80,000 110,000 120,000 143,000
Occupations in Mathematics and Physical Sciences 2,469 70,000 90,000 94,000 113,000
Occupations in Life Sciences 1,819 48,000 61,000 70,000 85,000
Hie Professional, Technical, and Managerial 2,066 80,000 105,000 111,000 137,000
Occupations in Social Sciences 1,805 69,000 95,000 104,000 126,000
Occupations in Art 1,003 51,000 66,000 83,000 92,000
Occupations in Law and Jurisprudence 410 69,000 145,000 135,000 185,000
Occupations in Writing 205 41,000 60,000 68,000 85,000
Miscellaneous 217 42,000 57,000 67,000 86,000
Occupations in Entertainment and Recreation 67 33,000 52,000 59,000 71,000
Occupations in Museum, Library, and Archival Sciences 67 51,000 61,000 87,000 93,000
Occupations in Religion and Theology 42 30,000 38,000 42,000 48,000
Sales Promotions Occupations 4 39,000 78,000 77,000 116,000
Occupation unknown 562 63,000 89,000 96,000 110,000

Notes: Occupations ranked by the number of beneficiaries,

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

Mean is the average of all values.

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

18 The FY 2012 report reflects detailed occupational groups, whereas the FY 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015

reports reflect major occupational groups, which capture data on the general categories of H-1B positions.

18



Characteristics of H-1B Specialty Occupation Workers

Table of Contents

L.

IL.

Ill.

IV.

Legislative Requirement.......c.scesesseesessessesessessesseeseesessesseessssvssesscansensssessseseeseessesessneeaseseeneese 1

Background

Data Report
Section 3.1 — General distribution of petitions
Section 3.2 — Distribution of petitions by country of birth
Section 3.3 — General distribution of petitions by ag
Section 3.4 — Distribution of petitions by education.
Section 3.5 — Distribution of petitions by occupation...
Section 3.6 — Distribution of petitions by annual compensation
Section 3.7 — Distribution of petitions by industry

Appendices
A. H-1B petition processing .
B. Data Limitations.

iii



Section 3.5 — Distribution of petitions by occupation

Occupational Category

Tables 8A and 8B show the distribution of beneficiaries by occupational category for FYs 2014
and 2015. The category of computer-related occupations was the largest occupational category
in 2015; its share of total petitions approved was 66 percent in FY 2015. The corresponding
shares for initial employment and continuing employment in computer-related occupations were
62 and 69 percent, respectively. The top ten occupational categories representing 98 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 decreased

by 10 percent from 2014 to 2015. The number of H-1B petitions for all other occupation groups
decreased by 18 percent between 2014 and 2015.

il



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

of Petition (Percent): FYs 2014 and 2015

All Tnitial Continuing
: Beneficiaries Employment Employment

Occupational Category FY2014 FY2015 FY2014  FY2015 | FY2014 = FY2015

Number Number | Number Number | Number Number

Occupation known 100 100 100 100 100 100
Computer-related occupations 64.5 66.5 65.1 62.4 63.9 69.4
saree a sae Engineering, 92 87 86 88 96 86
Occupations in Administrative Specializations 6.0 6.7 5.9 70 6.0 54
Occupations in Education 5.9 5.5 68 74 Sa 4.2
Occupations in Medicine and Health 49 42 4.0 4 5.4 43
Tees and 18 18 18 2A 17 15
Managers and Officials N.E.C.* 17 LS 14 14 2.0 1.6
Occupations in Life Sciences 15 15 17 2.0 14 LI
Occupations in Social Sciences 1.2 1,3 13 15 1.2 Ld
Tehnicl and Manegeil rs a rd
Occupations in Art 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.6
Occupations in Law and Jurisprudence 0.3 0.3 04 04 0.3 0.3
Occupations in Writing. 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1
Miscellaneous 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Occupations in Entertainment and Recreation Ol 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0
Occupations in Museum, Library, & Archival Sciences 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0
Occupations in Religion and Theology 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Sales Promotion Occupations 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Occupation unknown ---0.6--- ---0.03--- 0.6 ---0.6--- ---0.4---

Notes:

Occupations ranked based on FY 2015 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.

13



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

To fulfill this requirement, USCIS submits the following report for FY 2015, October 1, 2014—
September 30, 2015.

Highlights

The number of H-1B petitions filed increased 9 percent from 318,824 in FY 2014 to
348,669 in FY 2015.

The number of H-1B petitions approved decreased 13 percent from 315,857 in FY 2014
to 275,317 in FY 2015." ‘
71 percent of H-1B petitions approved in FY 2015 were for workers between the ages of
25 and 34.

45 percent of H-1B petitions approved in FY 2015 were for workers with a bachelor’s
degree, 44 percent had a master’s degree, 7 percent had a doctorate, and

3 percent were for workers with a professional degree.

66 percent of H-1B petitions approved in FY 2015 were for workers in computer-related
occupations.

The median salary of beneficiaries of approved petitions increased from $75,000 for FY
2014 to $79,000 for FY 2015.

' 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. The figures for Fiscal Year 2015 include petitions
which were received prior to Fiscal Year 2015, but were approved in Fiscal Year 2015 (see footnote 11).



IV. Appendices

A. H-1B petition processing

Petitions for obtaining H-1B nonimmigrant classification for alien workers are submitted by
prospective employers on USCIS Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, the H
Classification Supplement to Form J-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,” 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), as well as data on
occupational and industry categories, are taken from the petition and entered by data entry clerks
into the case tracking system Computer-Linked Application Information Management System.
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 petition and 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

7! 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).

22



Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528

AUR.

NA Homeland

x

Security

Foreword

March 17, 2016

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 2015, 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 Charles Grassley
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee

The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy
Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee

The Honorable Robert W. Goodlatte
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.

Sincerely,

M. TiafJohnson e———__

Assistant Secrefary for Legislative Affairs



Section 3.3 — Distribution of petitions by age

Table 5 shows the age distribution of the H-1B beneficiaries in FY 2015 by type of petition.
Seventy-one percent of workers granted H-1B status during FY 2015 were between 25 and 34
years of age at the time their petitions were approved. Forty-nine percent of initial beneficiaries
were under 30, compared with 28 percent of continuing beneficiaries.

Table 5. H-1B Petitions Approved by Age of Beneficiary at Time of Approval
and by Type of Petition: FY 2015

Age All Percent Initial Percent Continuing Percent
Beneficiaries Employment Employment

Total 275,317 113,603 161,714

Age known 275,266 100 113,572 100 161,694 100
Under 20 56 0.02 35 0.03 21 0.01
20-24 10,942 3.98 9,800 8.63 1,142 0.71
25-29 89,903 32.66 46,060 40.56 43,843 27.11
30-34 105,631 38.37 35,235 31.02 70,396 43.54
35-39 47,440 17.23 15,148 13.34 32,292 19,97
40-44 14,050 5.1 4,642 4.09 9,408 5.82
45-49 4,377 1.59 1,543 1.36 2,834 1.75
50-54 1,731 0.63 676 0.6 1,055 0.65
55-59 733 0.27 272 0.24 461 0.29
60-64 282 0.1 105 0.09 177 0.11
65 and over 121 0.04 56 0.05 65 0.04
Age unknown Slo we 31 noses 200 meee

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



Table 8A. H-1B Petitions Approved by Major Occupation Group of Beneficiary and Type
of Petition (Number): Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015

All Initial Continuing
Beneficiaries Employment Employment

Occupational Category Fy2014  FY2015 | FY2014 ~—-FY2015 | FY2014  FY2015

Number Number | Number Number | Number Number

Total 315,857 275,317 | 124,326 113,603 | 191,531 161,714
Occupation known 313,930 274,380 | 123,591 113,232] 190,339 161,148
Computer-related occupations 203,425 183,076 80,877 70,902 | 122.368 112,174
ee Engineering 29,103 23,866} 10,707 «10,003 | 18,396 13,863
Occupations in Administrative Specializations 18,905 16,628 7,395 7,899 | 11,510 8,729
Occupations in Education 18,680 15,123 8,393 8,395] 10,287 6,728
Occupations in Medicine and Health 15,358 11,543 5,020 4,645 10,338 6,898
Occupations in Mathematics and Physical Sciences 5,571 4,917 2,295 2,441 3,276 2,476
Managers and Officials N.E.C.* 5.453 4,103 1,699 1,550 3,754 2,553
Occupations in Life Sciences 4,746 44 2,158 2,291 2,588 1,823
Occupations in Social Sciences 3,920 3,480 1,567 1,666 2,353 1,814
_——— Professional, Technical, and 3,861 3,505 1204 1,598 ASk 2,067
Occupations in Art 2,518 1,899 958 891 1,560 1,008
Occupations in Law and Jurisprudence 1,018 864 486 454 532 410
Occupations in Writing 646 424 305 218 341 206
Miscellaneous! 405 355 186 137 219 218
Occupations in Entertainment and Recreation 178 134 89 66 89 68
ee in Museum, Library, and Archival 158 148 1 81 87 67
Occupations in Religion and Theology 92 85 40 43 52 42
Sales Promotion Occupations B 26 51 22 22 4
Occupation unknown" 1,927 937 735 371 1,192 566

Notes: Occupations ranked based on FY 2015 data.
*N.E.C. indicates not elsewhere classified.

33 ‘The Miscellaneous category is a Major Occupation Group whose numbers are derived from the Detailed

Occupations listed in Table 9A. A full listing of the Major Occupation Groups and the corresponding Detailed

Occupations can be found in form M-746 http:/Avww.uscis.gov/files/form/m-746.pdf.

\ The data in this chart is pulled from information captured on the Form I-129. In some instances a petitioner will
leave the beneficiary’s job code blank, which we report here as “Occupation unknown.” This generally means that

the position could not be classified under one of the provided occupational categories; it does not mean that the
position is unknown or that the position is or is not a specialty occupation.

12