Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services | https://medium.com/the-u-s-digital-service/meet-the-dhs-digital-service-champions-may-2018-caee7dade2b
Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services | https://medium.com/the-u-s-digital-service/meet-the-dhs-digital-service-champions-may-2018-caee7dade2b
Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. It is designed to address skill gaps in the U.S. workforce while ensuring wage standards to protect both U.S. and H-1B workers. Employers must certify that they will pay H-1B workers wages equal to or greater than those of similarly qualified U.S. employees or the prevailing local wage.
The average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the United States in 2024 stood at 98%, slightly higher than 2023's 97.3%. Locally, employers across all industries located within the Gateway Reporter publication area submitted 53 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 98.1%.
The Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led the H-1B filings in the Gateway Reporter publication area during 2024, with 16 petitions (30.2% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 100%. Meanwhile, the Educational Services industry was the second largest contributor, filing 11 petitions (20.8% of the total), with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Retail Trade sector in the Gateway Reporter publication area saw a 100% increase in the number of H-1B petitions during 2024.
The United States admits around 1 million legal immigrants annually, most of whom receive permanent residence (green cards) through family sponsorship or employment-based visas. In 2023, about 1.2 million immigrants were granted green cards, a return to pre-pandemic levels. Temporary visa programs, such as the H-1B for highly skilled workers and H-2A for seasonal agricultural workers, also play a critical role in filling workforce needs.
Public opinion on immigration varies, with 46% of Americans favoring maintaining current legal immigration levels, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey. Additionally, 42% believe that highly skilled workers, such as scientists, doctors, and programmers, should be prioritized for legal immigration, compared to 25% who prioritize workers filling labor shortages and 19% who emphasize family sponsorship. Despite this, family sponsorship remains the most common path to permanent residency, accounting for 63% of green cards issued in 2023.
The data in this article comes from the H-1B Employer Data Hub provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). While USCIS strives for accuracy, manual data entry and errors on paper forms submitted by applicants or petitioners may result in discrepancies in employer names, tax IDs, locations, or other details.
| Rank | Industry | Total Petitions | % of All Submissions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 16 | 30.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 11 | 20.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Manufacturing | 10 | 18.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 11.3% | 83.3% | 16.7% |
| 5 | Retail Trade | 2 | 3.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Accommodation and Food Services | 2 | 3.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Finance and Insurance | 2 | 3.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Public Administration | 1 | 1.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Information | 1 | 1.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 1.9% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahaapps, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Virginia State University | Educational Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Indivior, Inc. | Manufacturing | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Annslo Technician, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Sussex County Public Schools | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| James River Cardiology, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Ashlake Technician, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Phlow Corporation | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Productiv, Inc. | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| RNK, PLLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Royal Family Community Services | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| The School Board of the City of Pe | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The School Board of the City of Petersburg | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Timmons Group | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Turnkey Enterprises, Inc. | Retail Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| West Creek Financial, Inc. | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Zima-Pack, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Petal Card, Inc. | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Paymerang, LLC | Information | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Maconit, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Lunenburg Nottoway Educational Fou | 1 | 100% | 0% | |
| Legacy Holdings, LLC | Accommodation and Food Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| GD USA, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Fernandez Group, LLC | Accommodation and Food Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| DSD Partners, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Commonwealth of Virginia Secretary | Public Administration | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Commonwealth of Virginia Central S | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Buford Road Pharmacy, Inc. | Retail Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Altria Client Services, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
Alerts Sign-up