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 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led the H-1B filings locally during 2024, with 46 petitions (59% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 93.5%. Meanwhile, the Health Care and Social Assistance industry was the second largest contributor, filing 13 petitions (16.7% of the total), with an approval rate of 100%.
The Huntsville Leader publication area employers with the most petitions during 2024 included Intergraph Corporation, which filed 25 petitions with an approval rate of 96%, The Health Care Authority of the City of Anniston with nine petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and Amphenol Tecvox, LLC, which filed six petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Huntsville Leader publication area saw a 9.9% increase 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 | 46 | 59% | 93.5% | 6.5% |
2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 13 | 16.7% | 100% | 0% |
3 | Manufacturing | 8 | 10.3% | 100% | 0% |
4 | Educational Services | 3 | 3.8% | 100% | 0% |
5 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 2 | 2.6% | 100% | 0% |
5 | Information | 2 | 2.6% | 100% | 0% |
7 | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 1.3% | 100% | 0% |
Company Name | Industry(ies) | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
---|---|---|---|---|
Intergraph Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 25 | 96% | 4% |
The Health Care Authority of the City of Anniston | Health Care and Social Assistance | 9 | 100% | 0% |
Amphenol Tecvox, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
Runergy Alabama, Inc. | Manufacturing | 5 | 100% | 0% |
Adventa Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
Discovery Life Sciences | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
HH Heart Center, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
3-Gis, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 66.7% | 33.3% |
Alabama a and M University | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
Starbelt DC, LLC | Information | 1 | 100% | 0% |
Singing River Trail Outdoor Adventures, LLC | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1 | 100% | 0% |
Adtran, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
Oakwood University | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
Lakshmi Distributors, LLC | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
Knowledge Vortex, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 0% | 100% |
Integrated Behavioral Health, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
Indorama Ventures Sustainable Solu | 1 | 100% | 0% | |
Huntsville Renal Clinic, P C | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
Alabama Space Science Exhibit Community | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1 | 100% | 0% |
Federal Mogul Powertrain, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
Excellance, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
Applied Olap, Inc. | Information | 1 | 100% | 0% |
Cstoreiq, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
Chapman Sisson Architects, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
CFD Research Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |