Tammy Meckley, Associate Director, Immigration Records and Identity Services Directorate for USCIS | https://www.dhswatchlist.com/
Tammy Meckley, Associate Director, Immigration Records and Identity Services Directorate for USCIS | https://www.dhswatchlist.com/
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 WC Wisconsin News publication area submitted 94 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 100%.
While the Health Care and Social Assistance industry led the H-1B filings with 55 petitions, representing 58.5% of all submissions in the WC Wisconsin News publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Manufacturing industry, which accounted for 33 petitions and represented 35.1% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Manufacturing industry, all were approved.
The WC Wisconsin News publication area employers with the most petitions categorized under the Manufacturing sector during 2024 included Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC, which filed 21 petitions with an approval rate of 100%, Ashley Global Retail, LLC with nine petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and Ashley Distribution Services, Ltd., which filed two petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Manufacturing sector in the WC Wisconsin News publication area saw a 10.8% decrease 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 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 55 | 58.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Manufacturing | 33 | 35.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 2.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Retail Trade | 1 | 1.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Accommodation and Food Services | 1 | 1.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 1.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Utilities | 1 | 1.1% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshfield Clinic | Health Care and Social Assistance | 44 | 100% | 0% |
| Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC | Manufacturing | 21 | 100% | 0% |
| Ashley Global Retail, LLC | Manufacturing | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Gundersen Lutheran Administrative | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Ashley Distribution Services, Ltd. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Baldwin Area Medical Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Family Health Center of Marshfield, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Ashley Furniture Trading Company L | Retail Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| BRF Hotel, LLC | Accommodation and Food Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Chileda Institute, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Cooperative Regions of Organic Producer Pools | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Dairyland Power Cooperative | Utilities | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Gundersen Lutheran Administrative Services, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Michaels Energy, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Motive SCC, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Northern Engraving Corporation | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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