Ted H. Kim, Associate Director Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate for USCIS | https://www.naco.org/
Ted H. Kim, Associate Director Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate for USCIS | https://www.naco.org/
For comparison, the nationwide average approval rate is 98%.
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 Michigan across all industries submitted 11,845 petitions during the same period, with an approval rate of 98.2%.
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 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led H-1B petition approvals in the SE Grand Rapids News publication area during 2024, filing a total of 18 petitions (50% of all submissions) and receiving approvals for all of them. The Manufacturing industry followed, with 12 petitions (33.3% 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 Chain Sys Corporation with 17 petitions and all of them approved, Dicastal North America, Inc., Greenville Public Schools and Kellogg USA, LLC with two petitions each, along with two other companies, and Aspen Surgical Products, Inc., Bradford White Corporation and Drug and Laboratory Disposal, Inc. with one petitions each, along with six other companies.
Compared to 2023, Michigan saw a 21.7% 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 | 18 | 50% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Manufacturing | 12 | 33.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Educational Services | 3 | 8.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 2.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 2.8% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chain Sys Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 17 | 100% | 0% |
| Dicastal North America, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Greenville Public Schools | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Kellogg USA, LLC | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| WK Kellogg Business Services, LLC | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| WK Kellogg North America, LLC | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Aspen Surgical Products, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Bradford White Corporation | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Drug and Laboratory Disposal, Inc. | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Family Medicine of Michigan | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Federal Mogul Powertrain, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Hastings Manufacturing Company | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| LS Engineering, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Northpointe Christian Schools | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| ORB Aerospace, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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