How many H-1B petitions made by Illinois employers were approved during 2024?

In 2024, 19,906 of the 20,166 H-1B petitions submitted by employers based in Illinois were approved, according to data provided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services via the H-1B Employer Data Hub.

This represents an approval rate of 98.7%, which is higher 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 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led H-1B petition approvals in Illinois during 2024, filing a total of 10,665 petitions (52.9% of all submissions) and receiving 10,502 approvals, resulting in an approval rate of 98.5%. The Finance and Insurance industry followed, with 2,097 petitions (10.4% of all submissions), receiving 2,085 approvals and an approval rate of 99.4%.

Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.

The Illinois employers with the most approvals during 2024 included Capgemini America, Inc., filing a total of 2,781 petitions and receiving 2,761 approvals, resulting in an approval rate of 99.3%, and Accenture, LLP, which filed 2,169 petitions and received 2,156 approvals, resulting in an approval rate of 99.4%.

Compared to 2023, Illinois saw an 8.9% 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	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	10,665	52.9%	10,502	98.5%	1.5%
2	Finance and Insurance	2,097	10.4%	2,085	99.4%	0.6%
3	Management of Companies and Enterprises	1,978	9.8%	1,965	99.3%	0.7%
4	Manufacturing	1,744	8.6%	1,729	99.1%	0.9%
5	Educational Services	1,221	6.1%	1,197	98%	2%
6	Health Care and Social Assistance	803	4%	792	98.6%	1.4%
7	Information	303	1.5%	301	99.3%	0.7%
8	Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	251	1.2%	248	98.8%	1.2%
9	Wholesale Trade	189	0.9%	181	95.8%	4.2%
10	Retail Trade	141	0.7%	140	99.3%	0.7%
11	Other Services (except Public Administration)	131	0.6%	128	97.7%	2.3%
12	Accommodation and Food Services	107	0.5%	107	100%	0%
13	Real Estate and Rental and Leasing	81	0.4%	81	100%	0%
14	Transportation and Warehousing	63	0.3%	62	98.4%	1.6%
15	Construction	63	0.3%	60	95.2%	4.8%
16	Utilities	40	0.2%	40	100%	0%
17	Public Administration	25	0.1%	24	96%	4%
18	Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	17	0.1%	17	100%	0%
19	Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting	3	~0%	3	100%	0%
20	Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction	1	~0%	1	100%	0%

Rank	Company Name	Industry(ies)	Total Petitions	Approved Petitions	% Approved	% Denied
1	Capgemini America, Inc.	Information; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	2,781	2,761	99.3%	0.7%
2	Accenture, LLP	Information; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Management of Companies and Enterprises	2,169	2,156	99.4%	0.6%
3	Jpmorgan Chase and Company	Management of Companies and Enterprises; Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	2,002	1,989	99.4%	0.6%
4	DFS Corporate Services, LLC	Finance and Insurance	484	482	99.6%	0.4%
5	University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign	Educational Services	327	322	98.5%	1.5%
6	The University of Chicago	Educational Services	287	286	99.7%	0.3%
7	Northwestern University	Educational Services	238	235	98.7%	1.3%
8	ZS Associates, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	199	197	99%	1%
9	Zensar Technologies, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	156	153	98.1%	1.9%
10	The Northern Trust Company	Finance and Insurance	139	139	100%	0%
11	Abbvie, Inc.	Manufacturing	132	132	100%	0%
12	Health Care Service Corporation	Finance and Insurance	129	127	98.4%	1.6%
13	Discover Products, Inc.	Finance and Insurance	126	126	100%	0%
14	Deere and Company	Manufacturing	120	120	100%	0%
15	Archer Daniels Midland Company	Manufacturing; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	119	119	100%	0%
16	Uchicago Argonne, LLC	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	108	108	100%	0%
16	Transunion, LLC	Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	110	108	98.2%	1.8%
18	Medline Industries LP	Manufacturing	108	107	99.1%	0.9%
19	Motorola Solutions, Inc.	Manufacturing	106	104	98.1%	1.9%
20	Marvelous Technologies, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	101	98	97%	3%
21	BDO USA, LLP	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	95	93	97.9%	2.1%
22	Yash Technologies, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	90	89	98.9%	1.1%
23	Bitwise, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	79	78	98.7%	1.3%
24	Zifo Technologies, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	69	69	100%	0%
25	St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division an Abbott Laboratories Company, Inc.	Manufacturing	68	68	100%	0%
26	Northwestern Memorial Healthcare	Health Care and Social Assistance	67	67	100%	0%
27	The Options Clearing Corporation	Finance and Insurance	66	66	100%	0%
27	Mcdonalds Corporation	Accommodation and Food Services	66	66	100%	0%
29	Rush University Medical Center	Health Care and Social Assistance	64	64	100%	0%
30	Wolters Kluwer United States, Inc.	Information	62	62	100%	0%
30	Grant Thornton, LLP	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	63	62	98.4%	1.6%
32	RSM US, LLP	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	65	61	93.8%	6.2%
32	Vistaltech, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	62	61	98.4%	1.6%
34	Crowe, LLP	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	60	60	100%	0%
34	Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Inc.	Information; Finance and Insurance	61	60	98.4%	1.6%
36	Zurich American Insurance Company	Finance and Insurance	60	59	98.3%	1.7%
37	Balyasny Asset Management L P	Finance and Insurance	57	57	100%	0%
38	Molex, LLC	Manufacturing	54	53	98.1%	1.9%
39	Abbott Laboratories	Manufacturing	53	52	98.1%	1.9%
40	Thoughtworks, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	52	51	98.1%	1.9%
41	BMO Bank, N A	Finance and Insurance	50	50	100%	0%
41	Jones Lang Lasalle Americas, Inc.	Real Estate and Rental and Leasing	50	50	100%	0%
43	Morningstar, Inc.	Finance and Insurance	49	49	100%	0%
43	Jump Operations, LLC	Finance and Insurance	51	49	96.1%	3.9%
45	Innovative Consulting Solutions LL	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	49	47	95.9%	4.1%
45	Zebra Technologies Corporation	Manufacturing	48	47	97.9%	2.1%
47	Grainger Management, LLC	Other Services (except Public Administration)	46	46	100%	0%
48	CCC Intelligent Solutions, Inc.	Information	45	45	100%	0%
48	Mygo Consulting, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	46	45	97.8%	2.2%
50	A T Kearney, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	44	44	100%	0%
51	Suprasoft, Inc.	Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	44	43	97.7%	2.3%
51	Synapsis, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	43	43	100%	0%
53	Fermi Research Alliance, LLC	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	43	42	97.7%	2.3%
54	Dataedge, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	41	41	100%	0%
55	Walgreen Company	Retail Trade	40	40	100%	0%
56	OSF Healthcare System	Health Care and Social Assistance	38	38	100%	0%
57	Sidley Austin US, LLP	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	37	37	100%	0%
58	MSR Technology Group, LLC	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	36	36	100%	0%
59	Egen Solutions, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	36	35	97.2%	2.8%
59	Circana, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	35	35	100%	0%
59	Tempus AL	Information; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	35	35	100%	0%
59	Aspire Systems Digital Transformat	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	35	35	100%	0%
63	Loyola University Chicago	Educational Services	34	34	100%	0%
63	DRW Holdings, LLC	Finance and Insurance	34	34	100%	0%
65	Chicago Public Schools	Educational Services	33	33	100%	0%
65	Lex Nimble Solutions, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	34	33	97.1%	2.9%
65	Eguru Solutions, LLC	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	39	33	84.6%	15.4%
68	Grubhub Holdings, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	32	32	100%	0%
68	Ibase Operations, Corp.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	32	32	100%	0%
68	John H Stroger Hospital of Cook County	Health Care and Social Assistance; Public Administration	32	32	100%	0%
71	Abbott Diabetes Care an Abbott, Inc.	Manufacturing	32	31	96.9%	3.1%
71	OSF Multi-Specialty Group	Health Care and Social Assistance	31	31	100%	0%
73	Ulta, Inc.	Retail Trade	30	30	100%	0%
73	Southern Illinois University Carbondale	Educational Services	31	30	96.8%	3.2%
73	Huron Consulting Services, LLC	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	30	30	100%	0%
73	Navistar, Inc.	Manufacturing	30	30	100%	0%
73	Saggezza, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	30	30	100%	0%
73	Etek It Services, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	30	30	100%	0%
79	Advansoft International, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	31	29	93.5%	6.5%
79	Quinnox, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	30	29	96.7%	3.3%
79	Aspire Systems, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	29	29	100%	0%
82	CDK Global, LLC	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	28	28	100%	0%
82	Beneficial Technician Services, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	28	28	100%	0%
82	Continental Casualty Company	Finance and Insurance	28	28	100%	0%
82	Perkins and Will, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	29	28	96.6%	3.4%
86	Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	27	27	100%	0%
86	Entellects Corporation	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	27	27	100%	0%
86	Aon Consulting, Inc.	Finance and Insurance	27	27	100%	0%
86	Ati Holdings, LLC	Health Care and Social Assistance	27	27	100%	0%
86	Ul, LLC	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	27	27	100%	0%
91	Arthur J Gallagher Service Company, LLC	Finance and Insurance	26	26	100%	0%
91	Nielsen Consumer, LLC	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	26	26	100%	0%
91	HSBC Technology and Services USA I	Finance and Insurance	26	26	100%	0%
94	The Chamberlain Group, LLC	Manufacturing	25	25	100%	0%
94	Onward Technologies, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	26	25	96.2%	3.8%
96	Binary Technician Consulting, Corp.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	24	24	100%	0%
96	University of Chicago Medical Center	Health Care and Social Assistance	24	24	100%	0%
96	Americloud Solutions, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	24	24	100%	0%
96	Discover Bank	Finance and Insurance	24	24	100%	0%
96	Biztegy Analytics, Inc.	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	24	24	100%	0%