Sponsorship Score

How It Works

The Sponsorship Score helps H-1B workers evaluate potential employers. A company with an "A" grade consistently gets petitions approved, pays well above prevailing wages, sponsors regularly, and has a low denial rate. A company with a "D" or "F" may have high denial rates (suggesting weak petitions or marginal specialty occupation arguments), pay at or near the minimum prevailing wage, or sponsor inconsistently. The score uses four weighted factors: approval rate (40% weight), wage ratio compared to prevailing wage (30%), sponsorship volume consistency over multiple years (20%), and inverse denial rate (10%). Scores are recalculated quarterly as new DOL data is released.

Related Terms

• Prevailing Wage, The average wage paid to workers in a similar occupation in the same geographic area, employers must pay H-1B workers at least this amount to prevent undercutting U.S. wages.
• H-1B Visa, A nonimmigrant work visa allowing U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in "specialty occupations" that require at least a bachelor's degree, the primary visa for skilled tech, engineering, and professional workers.
• Labor Condition Application (LCA), A DOL-certified form that employers must file before hiring an H-1B worker, attesting they will pay at least the prevailing wage and not adversely affect working conditions for U.S. workers.