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/
This represents an approval rate of 96.4%, which is lower than the nationwide average.
That year, the average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the U.S. stood at 98%, slightly higher than the 97.3% recorded in 2023. Statewide, employers in Illinois across all industries submitted 20,166 petitions during the same period, with an approval rate of 98.7%.
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 Health Care and Social Assistance industry led H-1B petition approvals in the East Central Reporter publication area during 2024, filing a total of 29 petitions (52.7% of all submissions) and receiving 28 approvals, resulting in an approval rate of 96.6%. The Manufacturing industry followed, with 15 petitions (27.3% of all submissions) and an approval rate of 100%.
Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.
The employers that filed the most petitions in the area during 2024 included North American Lighting, Inc. with 14 petitions and all of them approved, Eastern Illinois University with eight petitions and all of them approved, and Comfortable Care Dental Health Professionals PA and Dental Health Associates of Texas, PC with four petitions each.
Compared to 2023, Illinois saw a 27.4% 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 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 29 | 52.7% | 96.6% | 3.4% |
| 2 | Manufacturing | 15 | 27.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Educational Services | 10 | 18.2% | 90% | 10% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North American Lighting, Inc. | Manufacturing | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| Eastern Illinois University | Educational Services | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Comfortable Care Dental Health Professionals PA | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Dental Health Associates of Texas, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 75% | 25% |
| Tennessee Dental Professionals, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Crawford Hospital District | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Quirt Family Dentistry School | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Wisconsin Dental Group S C | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Northland Dental Partners | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| My Dentist Wichita P a | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Lifetime Dental Professionals of N | 1 | 100% | 0% | |
| Killeen and Heights Dental Centers | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| K Jasinski PC, D.M.D. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Illinois Eastern Community Colleges | Educational Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Ihi Turbo America Company | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Hospital and Medical Foundation of Paris, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Eastern Illinois Area Special Education | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Dental Professionals of Washington Quirt Mongrain Gibree, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Dental Professionals of Virginia, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Dental Professionals of South Caro | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Dental Professionals of Maine, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Dental Professionals of Kansas, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Dental Professionals of Illinois, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Dental Professionals of Georgia, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Connecticut Dental Professionals P | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Associated Dental Care Providers, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
Alerts Sign-up