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/
This represents an approval rate of 96.6%, 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 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 Thumb Reporter publication area during 2024, filing a total of 11 petitions (37.9% of all submissions) and receiving approvals for all of them. The Health Care and Social Assistance industry followed, with 10 petitions (34.5% of all submissions) and an approval rate of 90%.
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 Professional Software Associates, Inc. with three petitions and all of them approved, Bluewater Healthcare Network, BMK Solutions, LLC and Deckerville Community Hospital, Inc. with two petitions each, along with two other companies, and ZF Axle Drives Marysville, LLC, Yard Management Solutions, LLC and Wirtz Manufacturing Company, Inc. with one petitions each, along with 13 other companies.
Compared to 2023, Michigan saw a 21.7% 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 | 11 | 37.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 10 | 34.5% | 90% | 10% |
| 3 | Manufacturing | 5 | 17.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Retail Trade | 1 | 3.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Construction | 1 | 3.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Accommodation and Food Services | 1 | 3.4% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Software Associates, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Bluewater Healthcare Network | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 50% | 50% |
| BMK Solutions, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Deckerville Community Hospital, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| SMR Automotive Systems USA, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Scheurer Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| ZF Axle Drives Marysville, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Yard Management Solutions, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Wirtz Manufacturing Company, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Together Womens Health Medical GRO | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| PMK Enterprises, Inc. | Accommodation and Food Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| PJ Wallbank Springs | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Mclaren Thumb Region | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Mckenzie Memorial Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Matthew D Andrews D P M, P C | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Inter-Power Corporation | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| IMPC USA, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| DRY Coolers, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Craig Assembly, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Boxes R US, Inc. | Construction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Blue Water Pharmacy, LLC | Retail Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Altair Productdesign, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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