Characteristics of H-1B Beneficiaries of 2005

In November 2006, the USCIS published a report about the characteristics of specialty occupation workers (H-1B) of fiscal year 2005. The report analyzed the data of the H-1B petitions in 2005 in terms of the amount of petitions, birth country of the beneficiary, the age distribution of beneficiary, occupation and the annual compensation etc.

 I. Amount of Petitions

During fiscal year 2005, USCIS received 266,474 and approved 267,131 H-1B petitions submitted by employers on behalf of alien workers. The number of approved petitions exceeds the number of individual H-1B workers because more than one U.S. employer may file a petition on behalf of an individual H-1B worker (multiple petitions).

The number of approved H-1B petitions for initial employment also exceeds the cap because of employer-based cap exemptions and multiple petitions for individuals. For example, approved petitions for initial employment are exempt from the cap if the sponsors are institutions of higher education or nonprofit organizations affiliated with institutions of higher education; the sponsors are nonprofit research organizations or governmental research organizations; or a beneficiary has a U.S. advanced degree.

The number of petitions filed decreased 14 % from 312,200 in fiscal year 2004 to 266,474 in fiscal year 2005. And the number of petitions approved decreased 7 % from 287,418 in fiscal year 2004 to 267,131 in fiscal year 2005.  Table 1 shows the specific numbers of the filed and approved number of the petitions from 2002 to 2005.

Table 1. H-1B Petition Filed and /or Approved: Fiscal Year 2002 to 2005

	FY2002	FY2003	FY2004	FY2005
Petitions Filed	215,190	231,030	312,200	266,474
Petitions approved	197,537	217,340	287,418	267,131

                                                                     
                                    
                      

For initial employment, petitions filed decreased 28 % and petitions approved fell 10 %. In contrast, petitions filed for continuing employment remained constant and petitions approved decreased 4%. The number of petitions approved for continuing employment decreased from 156,921 in 2004 to 150,204 in 2005.

II. Country of Birth

Table 2 shows the distribution of beneficiaries by country of birth of 2005.  44 % of the H-1B petitions approved in fiscal year 2005 were granted to individuals born in India, a decrease of 4 % from 2004. The number of beneficiaries from China, the second leading source of H-1B beneficiaries, decreased 6 % in 2005. The number of beneficiaries from India approved for initial employment decreased 4 % in 2005, while the number of beneficiaries approved for continuing employment decreased 3 %. The number of beneficiaries approved in fiscal year 2005 decreased by 7 % from 2004.

Table 2. H-1B Petition Approved by Country of Birth of Beneficiary and Type of Petition Fiscal Year 2005         

Country of Birth	All Beneficiaries	Initial Employment	Continuing Employment
Total	267,131	116,927	150,204
Known	266,640	116,708	149,932
India	118,520	57,349	61,171
P.R China	24,561	10,643	13,918
Canada	11,780	4,246	7,534
Unknown	491	219	272

 

 

 

 

III. Age Distribution of Beneficiary

Table 3 shows the age distribution of the H-1B beneficiaries in fiscal year 2005. 65% of workers granted H-1B status during 2005 were between 25 and 34 years of age at the time their petitions were approved. 56 % of initial beneficiaries were under 30, compared with 28 % of continuing beneficiaries.

Table 3. H-1B Petitions Approved by Age of Beneficiary at Times of Approval 2005

Age	Total	Percent	Initial	Percent	Continuing	Percent
Total	267,131		116,927		150,102
Under 25	19,154	7.2%	16,740	14.3%	2,414	1.6%
25-34	175,954	65.6%	79,305	67.9%	95,749	63.8%
35-44	58,622	22.0%	16,916	15.5%	41,706	27.8%
45-54	11,595	4.3%	3,125	2.6%	8,470	5.6%
55 and over	2,521	0.9%	758	0.6%	1,763	1.2%
Age unknown	185		83		102

 

 

 

 

IV. Education

The breakdown of the highest level of education achieved by H-1B beneficiaries remained about the same between Fiscal years 2004 and 2005. As shown in the report, 45 % of all H-1B petitions approved for workers in 2005 reported that the beneficiary had earned the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree; 37 % a master’s degree; 5 % a doctorate, and 12 % a professional degree. Altogether, 98 % earned at least a bachelor’s degree and 54 % earned at least a master’s degree.

V. Occupation

The number of H-1B petitions approved for workers in computer-related occupations decreased 11 % from 127,279 in 2004 to 113,867 in 2005. The majority of occupation groups decreased between 2004 and 2005. The only exceptions were occupations in education (5 %); occupations in museum, library, and archival sciences (3 %); and occupations in religion and theology (14 %).

VI. Annual Compensation

As shown in the report, the median annual compensation reported by employers of H-1B workers approved for employment during fiscal year 2005 was $55,000. This number compares with $53,000 in 2004. One-half were expected to earn between $43,000 and $73,000. Median compensation ranged from a low of $32,000 for occupations in religion and theology to a high of $100,000 for fashion models.

As revealed in the report, beneficiaries for continuing employment reported higher annual compensation than did beneficiaries for initial employment. Median annual compensation was $60,000 for the former and $50,000 for the latter. In fiscal year 2004, workers approved for continuing employment and initial employment reported median annual compensation of $60,000 and $48,000 respectively.

(04/17/2007)

Refer this page to a friend

Adjustment of Status | Adoption | Advance Parole | Application Fees | Asylum & Removal | Business Entities | Corporate Clients | Consular Processing | Divorce | E-1 & E-2 | EAD | F-1 | Family Immigration | FAQs | Forms | Investor Visa | Immigration Glossary |
K Visa | L Visa | Marriage | Naturalization | Non-immigrant Visas | O-1 | Processing Time | Road to Green Card | TN | Visa Bulletin