This represents an approval rate of 97.9%, which is lower than the nationwide average.
In 2024, the average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the U.S. stood at 98%, slightly higher than the 97.3% recorded in 2023.
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 Retail Trade industry led H-1B petition approvals in Virginia during 2024, filing a total of 11,590 petitions (44.8% of all submissions) and receiving 11,376 approvals, resulting in an approval rate of 98.2%. The Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry followed, with 7,435 petitions (28.7% of all submissions), receiving 7,194 approvals and an approval rate of 96.8%.
Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.
The Virginia employers with the most approvals during 2024 included Amazon Com Services, LLC, filing a total of 10,789 petitions and receiving 10,591 approvals, resulting in an approval rate of 98.2%, and Amazon Web Services, Inc., which filed 2,240 petitions and received 2,214 approvals, resulting in an approval rate of 98.8%.
Compared to 2023, Virginia saw a 1.8% 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 Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail Trade | 11,590 | 44.8% | 11,376 | 98.2% | 1.8% |
| 2 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 7,435 | 28.7% | 7,194 | 96.8% | 3.2% |
| 3 | Information | 3,519 | 13.6% | 3,468 | 98.6% | 1.4% |
| 4 | Finance and Insurance | 1,043 | 4% | 1,038 | 99.5% | 0.5% |
| 5 | Educational Services | 801 | 3.1% | 788 | 98.4% | 1.6% |
| 6 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 240 | 0.9% | 233 | 97.1% | 2.9% |
| 7 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 229 | 0.9% | 227 | 99.1% | 0.9% |
| 8 | Manufacturing | 202 | 0.8% | 197 | 97.5% | 2.5% |
| 9 | Utilities | 69 | 0.3% | 69 | 100% | 0% |
| 10 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 68 | 0.3% | 65 | 95.6% | 4.4% |
| 11 | Accommodation and Food Services | 54 | 0.2% | 53 | 98.1% | 1.9% |
| 12 | Construction | 49 | 0.2% | 45 | 91.8% | 8.2% |
| 13 | Wholesale Trade | 42 | 0.2% | 42 | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | Transportation and Warehousing | 35 | 0.1% | 35 | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Public Administration | 30 | 0.1% | 30 | 100% | 0% |
| 16 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 18 | 0.1% | 18 | 100% | 0% |
| 17 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 16 | 0.1% | 16 | 100% | 0% |
| 18 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | 8 | ~0% | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| 19 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 8 | ~0% | 7 | 87.5% | 12.5% |
| 19 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 7 | ~0% | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Rank | Company Name | Industry(ies) | Total Petitions | Approved Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazon Com Services, LLC | Wholesale Trade; Retail Trade; Transportation and Warehousing; Information; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 10,789 | 10,591 | 98.2% | 1.8% |
| 2 | Amazon Web Services, Inc. | Retail Trade; Information; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2,240 | 2,214 | 98.8% | 1.2% |
| 3 | Amazon Development Center US, Inc. | Retail Trade; Information | 1,434 | 1,410 | 98.3% | 1.7% |
| 4 | CGI Technologies and Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 661 | 655 | 99.1% | 0.9% |
| 5 | Capital One Services, LLC | Finance and Insurance | 501 | 498 | 99.4% | 0.6% |
| 6 | Amazon Data Services, Inc. | Retail Trade; Information | 449 | 440 | 98% | 2% |
| 7 | Capital One National Association | Finance and Insurance | 250 | 250 | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | The University of Virginia | Educational Services | 203 | 202 | 99.5% | 0.5% |
| 9 | Computer Sciences Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 140 | 136 | 97.1% | 2.9% |
| 10 | System Soft Technologies, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 129 | 129 | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Educational Services | 117 | 116 | 99.1% | 0.9% |
| 12 | Antra, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 99 | 97 | 98% | 2% |
| 13 | Navy Federal Credit Union | Finance and Insurance | 95 | 95 | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | Sapphire Software Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 96 | 92 | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| 15 | Vista Applied Solutions Group, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 91 | 90 | 98.9% | 1.1% |
| 16 | Amazon Advertising, LLC | Retail Trade | 88 | 86 | 97.7% | 2.3% |
| 17 | DXC Technology Services, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 93 | 83 | 89.2% | 10.8% |
| 18 | Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation | Finance and Insurance | 83 | 81 | 97.6% | 2.4% |
| 19 | CSC Covansys Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 78 | 78 | 100% | 0% |
| 20 | Cosmic Healthcare, LLC | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 73 | 73 | 100% | 0% |
| 21 | Comtrix Solutions, Inc. | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 70 | 70 | 100% | 0% |
| 22 | Mejenta Systems, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 70 | 69 | 98.6% | 1.4% |
| 23 | Virginia Commonwealth University | Educational Services | 61 | 58 | 95.1% | 4.9% |
| 24 | Portsmouth City Public Schools | Educational Services | 56 | 56 | 100% | 0% |
| 24 | Rei Systems, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 56 | 56 | 100% | 0% |
| 26 | Idexcel, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 53 | 52 | 98.1% | 1.9% |
| 27 | Twitch Interactive, Inc. | Retail Trade | 51 | 49 | 96.1% | 3.9% |
| 27 | Annapurna Labs US, Inc. | Retail Trade | 50 | 49 | 98% | 2% |
| 29 | Guidehouse Digital, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 48 | 47 | 97.9% | 2.1% |
| 29 | Leidos, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 48 | 47 | 97.9% | 2.1% |
| 31 | Niha Technologies, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 48 | 46 | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| 32 | Old Dominion University | Educational Services | 45 | 44 | 97.8% | 2.2% |
| 32 | Nexus It, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 44 | 44 | 100% | 0% |
| 32 | Digital Intelligence Systems, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 44 | 44 | 100% | 0% |
| 35 | Asta CRS, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 42 | 42 | 100% | 0% |
| 36 | I-Link Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 42 | 41 | 97.6% | 2.4% |
| 37 | Nivid Infotech, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 40 | 40 | 100% | 0% |
| 38 | Sysintelli, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 39 | 39 | 100% | 0% |
| 39 | Torc Robotics, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 38 | 38 | 100% | 0% |
| 40 | Signature Commercial Solutions, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 37 | 37 | 100% | 0% |
| 41 | Adaequare, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 36 | 36 | 100% | 0% |
| 41 | VCU Health System Authority | Health Care and Social Assistance | 36 | 36 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Isolve Technology, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 35 | 35 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Zillion Technologies, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 35 | 35 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Softrams, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 35 | 35 | 100% | 0% |
| 46 | Cvent, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 34 | 34 | 100% | 0% |
| 47 | DPR Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 36 | 33 | 91.7% | 8.3% |
| 47 | Frontier It Solutions, Inc. | Information; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 33 | 33 | 100% | 0% |
| 47 | Global Sumi Technologies, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 34 | 33 | 97.1% | 2.9% |
| 50 | The Boeing Company | Manufacturing | 32 | 32 | 100% | 0% |
| 50 | Capital It Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 32 | 32 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | Teleworld Solutions, Inc. | Information; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 31 | 31 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | Nexsolv, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 31 | 31 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | Hilton Domestic Operating Company, Inc. | Accommodation and Food Services | 31 | 31 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | Carmax Enterprise Services Ces, LLC | Retail Trade | 31 | 31 | 100% | 0% |
| 52 | College of William and Mary | Educational Services | 31 | 31 | 100% | 0% |
| 57 | Fluence Energy, LLC | Utilities | 30 | 30 | 100% | 0% |
| 57 | Technician Tammina, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 31 | 30 | 96.8% | 3.2% |
| 57 | Virtuous Technician, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 31 | 30 | 96.8% | 3.2% |
| 57 | Maximus, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 30 | 30 | 100% | 0% |
| 61 | Acentra Health, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 29 | 29 | 100% | 0% |
| 62 | Acumen Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 28 | 28 | 100% | 0% |
| 62 | ICF Incorporated, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 30 | 28 | 93.3% | 6.7% |
| 62 | USM Business Systems | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 29 | 28 | 96.6% | 3.4% |
| 65 | SSA Technician, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 27 | 27 | 100% | 0% |
| 65 | Vision It USA, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 28 | 27 | 96.4% | 3.6% |
| 65 | It Minds, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 27 | 27 | 100% | 0% |
| 65 | Icloud Technologies, Corp. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 27 | 27 | 100% | 0% |
| 65 | Moxie It Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 27 | 27 | 100% | 0% |
| 70 | Sstech, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 25 | 25 | 100% | 0% |
| 70 | Appian Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 26 | 25 | 96.2% | 3.8% |
| 72 | Pillpack, LLC | Retail Trade | 24 | 24 | 100% | 0% |
| 72 | Microstrategy Incorporated | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 25 | 24 | 96% | 4% |
| 72 | Logicroute, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 25 | 24 | 96% | 4% |
| 72 | Dynamic Technology, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 24 | 24 | 100% | 0% |
| 76 | Swift, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 23 | 23 | 100% | 0% |
| 76 | Ingenious Heads, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 23 | 23 | 100% | 0% |
| 76 | Manassas Park City Schools | Educational Services | 24 | 23 | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| 76 | Texperts, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 25 | 23 | 92% | 8% |
| 76 | Ajace, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 24 | 23 | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| 76 | Comprobase, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 24 | 23 | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| 76 | George Mason University | Educational Services | 24 | 23 | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| 76 | Next Gen Software Solutions, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 24 | 23 | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| 76 | Comscore, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 23 | 23 | 100% | 0% |
| 85 | Smarton Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 25 | 22 | 88% | 12% |
| 85 | Technogen, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 23 | 22 | 95.7% | 4.3% |
| 85 | Validation Associates, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 22 | 22 | 100% | 0% |
| 85 | Cloud BC Labs, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 22 | 22 | 100% | 0% |
| 85 | Csra State and Local Solutions, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 23 | 22 | 95.7% | 4.3% |
| 85 | Global Technology Associates, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 24 | 22 | 91.7% | 8.3% |
| 85 | AAA Virginia Consulting, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 22 | 22 | 100% | 0% |
| 85 | Apex-2000, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 23 | 22 | 95.7% | 4.3% |
| 93 | Ramsai Software Solutions, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 22 | 21 | 95.5% | 4.5% |
| 93 | Technology Hub, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 23 | 21 | 91.3% | 8.7% |
| 93 | Realsoft Technologies, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 21 | 21 | 100% | 0% |
| 93 | Alpha 20 Group, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 24 | 21 | 87.5% | 12.5% |
| 93 | China Telecom Americas Corporation | Information; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 21 | 21 | 100% | 0% |
| 93 | General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 21 | 21 | 100% | 0% |
| 99 | Lancesoft, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 20 | 20 | 100% | 0% |
| 99 | Guidehouse, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 20 | 20 | 100% | 0% |