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/
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 Wisconsin across all industries submitted 2,879 petitions during the same period, with an approval rate of 99.1%.
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 SW Wisconsin News publication area during 2024, filing a total of 49 petitions (48.5% of all submissions) and receiving approvals for all of them. The Health Care and Social Assistance industry followed, with 43 petitions (42.6% 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 Epic Systems Corporation with 47 petitions and all of them approved, Aurora Medical Group, Inc. with 32 petitions and all of them approved, and Gundersen Lutheran Administrative Services, Inc. with six petitions filed and an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, Wisconsin saw a 57.8% 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 | 49 | 48.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 43 | 42.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Educational Services | 3 | 3% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Wholesale Trade | 2 | 2% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Manufacturing | 2 | 2% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Information | 1 | 1% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Utilities | 1 | 1% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industries | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epic Systems Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 47 | 100% | 0% |
| Aurora Medical Group, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 32 | 100% | 0% |
| Gundersen Lutheran Administrative Services, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Upland Hills Health, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Hatco Corporation | Manufacturing, Wholesale Trade | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Chachapoya Films, LLC | Information | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Chileda Institute, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Cooperative Regions of Organic Producer Pools | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Dairyland Power Cooperative | Utilities | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Dodgeville School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Familia Dental Mkemitchell, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Michaels Energy, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Motive SCC, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Necedah Area School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Prototek Digital Manufacturing Mad | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Verona Area School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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