Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services | https://medium.com/the-u-s-digital-service/meet-the-dhs-digital-service-champions-may-2018-caee7dade2b
Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services | https://medium.com/the-u-s-digital-service/meet-the-dhs-digital-service-champions-may-2018-caee7dade2b
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 Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings locally during 2024, with 182 petitions (63% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 98.4%. Meanwhile, the Manufacturing industry was the second largest contributor, filing 52 petitions (18% of the total), with an approval rate of 98.1%.
The Savannah Standard publication area employers with the most petitions during 2024 included Savannah Chatham County Public School, which filed 150 petitions with an approval rate of 98.7%, Ogrady Peyton International USA, Inc. with 46 petitions and an approval rate of 84.8%, and Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, which filed 37 petitions with an approval rate of 97.3%.
Compared to 2023, the Savannah Standard publication area saw a 17.2% 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 | Educational Services | 182 | 63% | 98.4% | 1.6% |
| 2 | Manufacturing | 52 | 18% | 98.1% | 1.9% |
| 3 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 47 | 16.3% | 85.1% | 14.9% |
| 4 | Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 0.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Construction | 1 | 0.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 0.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 0.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 0.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 0.3% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry(ies) | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah Chatham County Public School | Educational Services | 150 | 98.7% | 1.3% |
| Ogrady Peyton International USA, Inc. | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 46 | 84.8% | 15.2% |
| Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation | Manufacturing | 37 | 97.3% | 2.7% |
| Savannah College of ART and Design, Inc. | Educational Services | 27 | 96.3% | 3.7% |
| Caravels, LLC | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Strength of Nature, LLC | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Brasseler USA Dental | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| St. Josephs Candler Health System | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| JCB, Inc. | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| TMX Finance Corporate Services, Inc. | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The Savannah Classical Academy, Inc. | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The Collegiate Church of Saint Paul the Apostle | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Super Lumber Limited | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Savannah Tank and Equipment, Corp. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Savannah Global Solutions, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Mobis North America Electrified Po | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Macrosource, LLC | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Johnson Matthey Process Technologies, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ideal Hospitality Investments, Inc. | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Hardcore, LLC | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Gulfstream Services Corporation | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Gulfstream Aerospace Services Corporation | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Georgia Southern University | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Georgia Ports Authority | Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ecoplastic America, Corp. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| East Georgia HMA Physician Managem | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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