Of these, 788 were approved (98.4%), while 13 were denied (1.6%).
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.
The average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the United States in 2024 stood at 98%, higher than 2023's 97.3%. Statewide, Virginia employers across all industries submitted 25,463 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 97.9%.
The Retail Trade industry led the H-1B filings in Virginia during 2024, with 11,590 petitions (45.5% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 98.2%. Meanwhile, the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry was the second largest contributor, filing 7,435 petitions (29.2% of the total), with an approval rate of 96.8%.
The Virginia employers which made the most petitions in the Educational Services sector during 2024 included The University of Virginia with 201 petitions, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and with 109 petitions, and Virginia Commonwealth University with 61 petitions.
Compared to 2023, the Educational Services sector in Virginia saw a 0.4% 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 | Retail Trade | 11,590 | 45.5% | 98.2% | 1.9% |
| 2 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 7,435 | 29.2% | 96.8% | 3.2% |
| 3 | Information | 3,519 | 13.8% | 98.6% | 1.5% |
| 4 | Finance and Insurance | 1,043 | 4.1% | 99.5% | 0.5% |
| 5 | Educational Services | 801 | 3.2% | 98.4% | 1.6% |
| 6 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 240 | 0.9% | 97.1% | 2.9% |
| 7 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 229 | 0.9% | 99.1% | 0.9% |
| 8 | Manufacturing | 202 | 0.8% | 97.5% | 2.5% |
| 9 | Utilities | 69 | 0.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 10 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 68 | 0.3% | 95.6% | 4.4% |
| 11 | Accommodation and Food Services | 54 | 0.2% | 98.2% | 1.9% |
| 12 | Construction | 49 | 0.2% | 91.8% | 8.2% |
| 13 | Wholesale Trade | 42 | 0.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | Transportation and Warehousing | 35 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Public Administration | 30 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 16 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 18 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 17 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 16 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 18 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | 8 | 0% | 100% | 0% |
| 18 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 8 | 0% | 87.5% | 12.5% |
| 20 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 7 | 0% | 100% | 0% |
Top Employers in Educational Services Industry in Virginia, 2024
| Rank | Company Name | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Virginia | 201 | 99.5% | 0.5% |
| 2 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and | 109 | 99.1% | 0.9% |
| 3 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 61 | 95.1% | 4.9% |
| 4 | Portsmouth City Public Schools | 56 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Old Dominion University | 45 | 97.8% | 2.2% |
| 6 | College of William and Mary | 31 | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Manassas Park City Schools | 24 | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| 8 | George Mason University | 22 | 95.5% | 4.6% |
| 9 | James Madison University | 21 | 95.2% | 4.8% |
| 10 | Westmoreland County School Board | 13 | 100% | 0% |
| 10 | Virginia Beach City Public Schools | 13 | 100% | 0% |
| 12 | Harrisonburg City Public Schools | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| 12 | Hampton University | 10 | 90% | 10% |
| 14 | Alexandria City Public Schools | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | Prince Edward County Public Schools | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | Stride, Inc. | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | Eastern Virginia Medical School | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| 18 | University of Richmond | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| 19 | Longwood University | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| 20 | Shenandoah University | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| 20 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| 20 | Centra Health D B a Centra Col, Inc. | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| 23 | Greensville County Public Schools | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 23 | Virginia Military Institute | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 23 | Proctoru, Inc. | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 23 | Liberty University | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 23 | Christopher Newport University | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 23 | Virginia State University | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 29 | University of Mary Washington | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 29 | Peoplentech Institute of Information Technology, Inc. | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 29 | Sussex County Public Schools | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 32 | Hollins University | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 32 | Washington University of Science a | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 32 | University of Lynchburg | 3 | 66.7% | 33.3% |
| 32 | Radford University | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 32 | Walnut Consulting Group, LLC | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 32 | Albemarle County Public Schools | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 32 | VA University of Integrative Medicine | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 32 | Lancaster County Public Schools | 3 | 66.7% | 33.3% |
| 40 | Christendom College, LLC | 2 | 50% | 50% |
| 40 | Graduate Management Admission Coun | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 40 | Old Dominion University Research Foundation | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 40 | Roanoke College | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 40 | Washington and Lee University | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 40 | Franklin City Public Schools | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 40 | Norfolk State University | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 40 | Hampden-Sydney College | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 40 | National Student Clearinghouse | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Zoobean, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Pinnacle Education Services, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Star Lights T/A the Nest Academy, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Cybertek, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Randolph-Macon College | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Blue Ridge School Incorporated | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | The School Board of the City of Pe | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Mclean C2 Education, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Graduate Management Admission Council | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Chesapeake Bay Academy | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Congressional School, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Randolph College | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Averett University | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | The Insitute for Psychological SCI | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Henry County School Board | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Columbia College | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Appalachian College of Pharmacy | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Symplicity Corporation | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Carroll County Public Schools | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Cape School, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | The University of VA Physicians Group | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Clinical Care Options, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Language Associates, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Virginia Wesleyan University | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Canady Consulting, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | The Sycamore School | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Newport News Public Schools | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | STM Tennis, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Eastern Mennonite University | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Regent University | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | Bridgewater College | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 49 | The School Board of the City of Petersburg | 1 | 100% | 0% |