Of these, 2,852 were approved (99.1%), while 27 were denied (0.9%).
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 Manufacturing industry led the H-1B filings in Wisconsin during 2024, with 646 petitions (22.4% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 99.7%. Meanwhile, the Educational Services industry was the second largest contributor, filing 603 petitions (20.9% of the total), with an approval rate of 99.2%.
The Wisconsin employers with the most petitions during 2024 included Fiserv Solutions, LLC, which filed 402 petitions with an approval rate of 100%, University of WI System Madison with 297 petitions and an approval rate of 99.3%, and Milwaukee Board of School Directors, which filed 160 petitions with an approval rate of 98.8%.
Compared to 2023, the number of H-1B petitions filed in Wisconsin during 2024 decreased by 1.1%.
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 | Manufacturing | 646 | 22.4% | 99.7% | 0.3% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 603 | 20.9% | 99.2% | 0.8% |
| 3 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 459 | 15.9% | 98% | 2% |
| 4 | Information | 429 | 14.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Finance and Insurance | 291 | 10.1% | 99.3% | 0.7% |
| 6 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 192 | 6.7% | 99% | 1% |
| 7 | Wholesale Trade | 94 | 3.3% | 97.9% | 2.1% |
| 8 | Retail Trade | 48 | 1.7% | 97.9% | 2.1% |
| 9 | Construction | 36 | 1.3% | 97.2% | 2.8% |
| 10 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 22 | 0.8% | 95.5% | 4.5% |
| 11 | Transportation and Warehousing | 15 | 0.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 12 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 6 | 0.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 3 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Utilities | 3 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 2 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Public Administration | 2 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 2 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | 2 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | Accommodation and Food Services | 2 | 0.1% | 50% | 50% |
| 20 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1 | 0% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industries | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiserv Solutions, LLC | Information, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 402 | 100% | 0% |
| University of WI System Madison | Educational Services | 297 | 99.3% | 0.7% |
| Milwaukee Board of School Directors | Educational Services | 160 | 98.8% | 1.3% |
| Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company | Finance and Insurance | 127 | 99.2% | 0.8% |
| Experis US, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 96 | 97.9% | 2.1% |
| American Family Mutual Insurance Company S I | Finance and Insurance | 84 | 98.8% | 1.2% |
| Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation | Manufacturing | 73 | 100% | 0% |
| Rockwell Automation, Inc. | Manufacturing | 66 | 100% | 0% |
| Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc. | Educational Services | 56 | 100% | 0% |
| Ge Precision Healthcare, LLC | Manufacturing, Wholesale Trade, Finance and Insurance | 55 | 100% | 0% |
| Epic Systems Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 47 | 100% | 0% |
| Johnson Controls, Inc. | Manufacturing | 45 | 100% | 0% |
| Marshfield Clinic | Health Care and Social Assistance | 44 | 100% | 0% |
| Kohler Company | Manufacturing | 41 | 100% | 0% |
| Aurora Medical Group, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 33 | 100% | 0% |
| Uline, Inc. | Wholesale Trade, Finance and Insurance | 29 | 100% | 0% |
| Regal Rexnord Corporation | Manufacturing | 26 | 100% | 0% |
| ISR Info Way, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 24 | 100% | 0% |
| Symphony Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 24 | 100% | 0% |
| Fetch Rewards, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 24 | 100% | 0% |
| CNH Industrial America, LLC | Manufacturing | 23 | 100% | 0% |
| York International Corporation | Construction | 22 | 100% | 0% |
| Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC | Manufacturing | 21 | 100% | 0% |
| Generac Power Systems | Manufacturing | 18 | 100% | 0% |
| CMFG Life Insurance Company | Finance and Insurance | 16 | 100% | 0% |
| Marquette University | Educational Services | 16 | 100% | 0% |
| Kohls, Inc. | Retail Trade | 16 | 100% | 0% |
| Kimberly Clark USA, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, Manufacturing | 16 | 100% | 0% |
| Fii USA, Inc. | Manufacturing | 15 | 100% | 0% |
| Kerry, Inc. | Manufacturing | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| Harley Davidson Motor Company Group, LLC | Manufacturing, Retail Trade | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| ABC Supply Company, Inc. | Wholesale Trade | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| Ge Medical Systems, LLC | Manufacturing | 13 | 100% | 0% |
| Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals, Inc. | Educational Services | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| Convergent Science, Inc. | Information | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| University of Wisconsin Whitewater | Educational Services | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| Nordic Consulting Partners, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| Springs Window Fashions, LLC | Manufacturing | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Sensormatic Electronics, LLC | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Labcorp Early Development Laboratories, Inc. | Manufacturing | 10 | 90% | 10% |
| Modine Manufacturing Company | Manufacturing | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Technoviz, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Renaissance Learning, Inc. | Information | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Ashley Global Retail, LLC | Manufacturing | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Wisdom Infotech, Ltd. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Air Wisconsin Airlines, LLC | Transportation and Warehousing | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Robert W Baird and Company Incorporated | Finance and Insurance | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Green Bay Area Public School District | Educational Services | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Skygen USA, LLC | Finance and Insurance | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Bellin Memorial Hospital, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Krones, Inc. | Manufacturing | 8 | 87.5% | 12.5% |
| Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation | Finance and Insurance | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering | Educational Services | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Exact Sciences Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, Health Care and Social Assistance | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| A O Smith Corporation | Manufacturing | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Adam Information Technologies, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Clarios, LLC | Manufacturing | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Amba Systems | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| University of WI Med Foundation | Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| BRP US, Inc. | Manufacturing | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Gundersen Lutheran Administrative Services, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Codeworks, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Prevea Clinic, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Flexion, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Datachat, Inc. | Information, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| State of Wisconsin Investment Board | Finance and Insurance | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Dean Health Systems, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Ripon College | Educational Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Mead and Hunt, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Schneider Enterprise Resources, LLC | Transportation and Warehousing | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Michels Construction, Inc. | Construction | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Miller Electric Manufacturing, LLC | Manufacturing | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Strata Innovative Solutions | Construction | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Quinn David and Associates, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| The Morgridge Institute for Research, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Discovery Energy, LLC | Manufacturing | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Oshkosh Defense, LLC | Manufacturing | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Northstar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC | Manufacturing | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Trek Bicycle Corporation | Manufacturing | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Affiliated Engineers, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Natus Medical Incorporated | Manufacturing | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Miracles Tek, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Associated Banc, Corp. | Finance and Insurance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| School Johnson Son, Inc. | Manufacturing | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Direct Supply, Inc. | Wholesale Trade | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Ascension Medical Group Southeast Wisconsin, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 75% | 25% |
| WTS Paradigm, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Lands END, Inc. | Retail Trade | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Greenheck Fan Corporation | Manufacturing | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation | Finance and Insurance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Soliton Technologies, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 50% | 50% |
| Johnson Controls Security Solutions, LLC | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 4 | 75% | 25% |
| Lawrence University of Wisconsin | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Thedacare, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Sentry Insurance a Mutual Company | Finance and Insurance | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Rogers Memorial Hospital D B a, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 75% | 25% |
| Total Administrative Services Corporation | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Wissen, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 75% | 25% |
| Door County Memorial Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Trishulla, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |