Of these, 1,129 were approved (97.5%), while 29 were denied (2.5%).
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.
For comparison, the average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the United States in 2024 stood at 98%, slightly higher than the 97.3% recorded in 2023.
The Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings in Alabama during 2024, with 386 petitions (33.3% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 98.4%. Meanwhile, the Manufacturing industry was the second largest contributor, filing 182 petitions (15.7% of the total), with an approval rate of 95.6%.
Among Alabama employers that made petitions during 2024, University of Alabama at Birmingham stood out with 188 petitions and an approval rate of 99.5%, followed by Auburn University with 77 petitions and an approval rate of 98.7%.
Compared to 2023, the number of H-1B petitions filed in Alabama during 2024 increased by 7.2%.
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 | 386 | 33.3% | 98.4% | 1.6% |
| 2 | Manufacturing | 182 | 15.7% | 95.6% | 4.4% |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 171 | 14.8% | 99.4% | 0.6% |
| 4 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 165 | 14.2% | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| 5 | Finance and Insurance | 84 | 7.3% | 98.8% | 1.2% |
| 6 | Information | 70 | 6% | 98.6% | 1.4% |
| 7 | Wholesale Trade | 18 | 1.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 13 | 1.1% | 61.5% | 38.5% |
| 9 | Construction | 10 | 0.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 10 | Retail Trade | 9 | 0.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | Transportation and Warehousing | 8 | 0.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 12 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 7 | 0.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Accommodation and Food Services | 4 | 0.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 4 | 0.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 3 | 0.3% | 100% | 0% |
| 16 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 2 | 0.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 17 | Utilities | 1 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industries | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Educational Services | 188 | 99.5% | 0.5% |
| Auburn University | Educational Services | 77 | 98.7% | 1.3% |
| University of Alabama Health Services Foundation, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 64 | 100% | 0% |
| Shipt, Inc. | Information | 64 | 98.4% | 1.6% |
| VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering, Inc. | Manufacturing | 59 | 86.4% | 13.6% |
| The University of Alabama | Educational Services | 53 | 96.2% | 3.8% |
| Regions Bank | Finance and Insurance | 36 | 97.2% | 2.8% |
| HL Mando America Corporation | Manufacturing | 29 | 100% | 0% |
| Intergraph Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 25 | 96% | 4% |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama | Finance and Insurance | 24 | 100% | 0% |
| Infodrive Systems, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 18 | 94.4% | 5.6% |
| USA Healthcare Management, LLC | Educational Services, Health Care and Social Assistance | 17 | 100% | 0% |
| The University of Alabama in Huntsville | Educational Services | 16 | 100% | 0% |
| My Supply Chain Group, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 13 | 100% | 0% |
| Alfa Mutual Insurance Company | Finance and Insurance | 13 | 100% | 0% |
| Devansh Lab Werks, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| The Health Care Authority of the City of Anniston | Health Care and Social Assistance | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Jackson Hospital and Clinic, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Atlas Healthcare, LLC | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 9 | 44.4% | 55.6% |
| Citw, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| University of South Alabama | Educational Services | 8 | 87.5% | 12.5% |
| Vaughan Regional Medical Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Motion Industries, Inc. | Wholesale Trade | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Troy University | Educational Services | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| GPS It Solutions, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Jacksonville State University | Educational Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Amphenol Tecvox, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| SMP Automotive Systems Alabama, Inc. | Manufacturing | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Tuskegee University | Educational Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| GFA Alabama, Inc. | Transportation and Warehousing | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Runergy Alabama, Inc. | Manufacturing | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Adventa Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 3-Gis, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 60% | 40% |
| Pacific Consultancy Services, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Kamtek, Inc. | Manufacturing | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Discovery Life Sciences | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Am NS Calvert, LLC | Manufacturing | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Goodwyn Mills and Cawood, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Vel True Technologies, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Guru Group, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 2a USA, Inc. | Manufacturing | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| IMC Diagnostic and Med Clinic, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Houston Company Healthcare Authority | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| GD Copper U S a, Inc. | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| HH Heart Center, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| ECM Health Group, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Gulf States Conference of Seventh | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| HD Hyundai Power Transformers USA | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Hanon Systems Alabama Corporation | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Danieli Taranis, LLC | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Dalton Smith Construction, LLC | Construction | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Posco Aapc, LLC | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| BBB Industries, LLC | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Protective Life Corporation | Finance and Insurance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Rehab Employee Services, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Alabama a and M University | Educational Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| University of North Alabama | Educational Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Tios Capital, LLC | Finance and Insurance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Trubridge, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Sio2 Medical Products, Inc. | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Infinity Insurance Company | Finance and Insurance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| The Health Care Authority for Baptist Health an Affiliate of Uab Health System | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| I-Pex USA Manufacturing, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| The Troy Hospital Health Care Authority | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Hibbett Retail, Inc. | Retail Trade | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| TTL, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| University of Montevallo | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| HH Health System Morgan, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| HH Health System - Marshall, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| University of South Alabama Health Care Authority | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Vulcan Materials Company | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Waverly Employment Services, LLC | Finance and Insurance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Yesac, Corp. | Construction | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Prism Systems, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Progress Rail Services Corporation | Transportation and Warehousing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| RCHP Florence, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Regional Health Management Corpora | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| River Region Psychiatry Associates, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Nucor Steel Decatur, LLC | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| New Flyer of America, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Neptune Technology Group, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Schmidt Automotive USA LP | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Nephrology Associates of Mobile PA | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Skypa Systems, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 50% | 50% |
| Montgomery Pulmonary Consultants P | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Mcwane, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| SM America, LLC | Wholesale Trade | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Southern Veterinary Partners, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Talladega College | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Tennibot, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| ARD Logistics Alabama, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Escambia County Health Care Authority, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Capstone Health Services Foundation | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Caliza, LLC | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Faulkner University | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Daxko, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| AMB Consulting Group, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Alliance Technical Group, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Alabama Cancer Care, LLC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 50% | 50% |
| Central Alabama Community College | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |