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.
In 2024, the average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the United States stood at 98%, slightly higher than 2023's 97.3%.
The Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings locally during 2024, with 206 petitions (71.3% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 99.5%. Meanwhile, the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry was the second largest contributor, filing 49 petitions (17% of the total), with an approval rate of 95.9%.
The Central Virginia Times publication area employers with the most petitions during 2024 included The University of Virginia, which filed 203 petitions with an approval rate of 99.5%, Swift, Inc. with 23 petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and National Radio Astronomy Observatory, which filed 11 petitions with an approval rate of 90.9%.
Compared to 2023, the Central Virginia Times publication area saw a 7.4% 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 | Educational Services | 206 | 71.3% | 99.5% | 0.5% |
| 2 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 49 | 17% | 95.9% | 4.1% |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 11 | 3.8% | 81.8% | 18.2% |
| 4 | Manufacturing | 7 | 2.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 3 | 1% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Finance and Insurance | 3 | 1% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Utilities | 2 | 0.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Information | 2 | 0.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 0.3% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry(ies) | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Virginia | Educational Services | 203 | 99.5% | 0.5% |
| Swift, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 23 | 100% | 0% |
| National Radio Astronomy Observatory | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 11 | 90.9% | 9.1% |
| The University of VA Physicians Group | Educational Services, Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Zenith Quest Corporation | Manufacturing, Wholesale Trade | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| S R Health Care Services, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 25% | 75% |
| Albemarle County Public Schools | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Apex Clean Energy, Inc. | Utilities, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| CFA Institute | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Setty and Associates, Ltd. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| PS Fertility, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Rivanna Medical, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| RMH Medical Group, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ampel, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Silverchair Science and Communicat | Information | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Springbok, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The Legacy Foundation, LLC | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Agrospheres, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Agility Feat, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| V4 Development, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Vmdo Architects, PC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Zenith Aerotech, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 2RW Consultants, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Playful Learners Preschool, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% | |
| Netforecast, Inc. | Information | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, PLLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Millennium Software Consulting, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Laser Thermal Analysis, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Journey Group, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Jocassee Quantative, LLC | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Investure, LLC | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Intelligent Platforms, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Hospice of the Piedmont, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Hillel Jewish Center at the University of VA | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| DR Lewis Weber and Associates | 1 | 100% | 0% | |
| Built Biotechnologies, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Blue Ridge School Incorporated | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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