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 St. Joe-Benton Harbor News publication area submitted 91 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 95.6%.
While the Manufacturing industry led the H-1B filings with 66 petitions, representing 72.5% of all submissions in the St. Joe-Benton Harbor News publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Educational Services industry, which accounted for 12 petitions and represented 13.2% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Educational Services industry, all were approved.
The St. Joe-Benton Harbor News publication area employers with the most petitions categorized under the Manufacturing sector during 2024 included Whirlpool Corporation, which filed 47 petitions with an approval rate of 95.7%, Kitchenaid Global, LLC with four petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and L Perrigo Company D B a Perrigo Company, which filed three petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Manufacturing sector in the St. Joe-Benton Harbor News publication area saw a 14.3% 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 | Manufacturing | 66 | 72.5% | 97% | 3% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 12 | 13.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 4.4% | 75% | 25% |
| 4 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 1.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 1.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 1.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 1.1% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whirlpool Corporation | Manufacturing | 47 | 95.7% | 4.3% |
| Andrews University | Educational Services | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Berrien Mental Health Authority D | 4 | 75% | 25% | |
| Kitchenaid Global, LLC | Manufacturing | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Padagis US, LLC | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| L Perrigo Company D B a Perrigo Company | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Armstrong International, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Modineer Company, LLC | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Wightman and Associates, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The John E Fetzer Institute, Inc. | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sutinderpal Judge PC, M.D. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Leco Corporation | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Lane Automotive D B a Motor St., Inc. | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| KM Industrial Machinery Company | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| J Rettenmaier USA LP | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Hanson Systems D B a Eagle Tec, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Enhanced Compliance, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Engineered Plastic Services, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Edgewater Automation, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Driven-4 | 1 | 100% | 0% | |
| Debest, Inc. | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Bonnell Aluminum Niles, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Allegan Public Schools | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
Alerts Sign-up