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 South Cook News publication area submitted 207 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 99.5%.
While the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led the H-1B filings with 117 petitions, representing 56.5% of all submissions in the South Cook News publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Manufacturing industry, which accounted for 37 petitions and represented 17.9% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Manufacturing industry, 97.3% were approved and 2.7% were denied.
Among local employers with petitions categorized under the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector during 2024, Uchicago Argonne, LLC stood out with 107 petitions and an approval rate of 100%, followed by Cotter Consulting, Inc. with two petitions and an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector in the South Cook News publication area saw an 11.4% 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 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 117 | 56.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Manufacturing | 37 | 17.9% | 97.3% | 2.7% |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 14 | 6.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Educational Services | 10 | 4.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Wholesale Trade | 8 | 3.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Transportation and Warehousing | 5 | 2.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 4 | 1.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Finance and Insurance | 3 | 1.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Construction | 2 | 1% | 100% | 0% |
| 10 | Accommodation and Food Services | 1 | 0.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 10 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 0.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 10 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1 | 0.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 10 | Public Administration | 1 | 0.5% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uchicago Argonne, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 107 | 100% | 0% |
| Metro Infectious Disease Consultan | Health Care and Social Assistance | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| West Harvey Dixmoor School District 147 | Educational Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Atkore Management, LLC | Manufacturing | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Progress Rail Locomotive, Inc. | Manufacturing | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| CRRC Sifang America Incorporated | Manufacturing | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Core Plastech International, Inc. | Manufacturing | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Midtronics, Inc. | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Fuchs Lubricants Company | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Chicago State University | Educational Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Illinois Conference of Seventh Day Adventists | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Im Global, LLC | Wholesale Trade | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Cotter Consulting, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| RNA Corporation | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Conexus Food Solutions, LLC | Wholesale Trade | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Caresoft Global, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| MMR Consulting USA, Inc. | 2 | 100% | 0% | |
| Illinois Central Railroad Company | Transportation and Warehousing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Trinity Christian College | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Unique Wealth Strategies, Inc. | Finance and Insurance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Old Veteran Construction, Inc. | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Panduit, Corp. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Panduit Sales, Corp. | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ocular Partners, PLLC | 1 | 100% | 0% | |
| MMJ Transportation, Inc. | Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 1st Choice Dental, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Payroc Worldaccess, LLC | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Pillars Community Health | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Preferred Risk Insurance Services, Inc. | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Pro Metal Recycling, Inc. | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| QC Donuts, Inc. | Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Quinn and Company Services, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| SM & It Logistics, Inc. | Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| South Chicago Packing, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Southland Development Authority NF | Public Administration | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Truform Tool and Equipment, Inc. | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Voyant Beauty, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Wondfo USA Company, Ltd. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 4wealth Financial Group, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Abna of Illinois, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Agrati, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Agrati Park Forest, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Allied Tube and Conduit Corporation | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ashlaur Construction Company D, Inc. | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| BGRS | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Bruin Xpress, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Chicago District Golf Association | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Consultants in Cardiology Electrophysiology, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Creative Led Signs, Inc. | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Dunker Ringwood Automation, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Espo Engineering Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Fiat Powertrain Technologies of North America, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Flying Food Group, LLC | Accommodation and Food Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Griffith Foods, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Griffith Foods Worldwide, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Hickory Dentistry, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| HMD Transport, Inc. | Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ilene, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ingalls Memorial Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Italmatch School, LLC | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Maximum Rehabilitation Services Lieutenant | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Midwest Anesthesiologists, Ltd. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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