Of these, 221 were approved (98.2%), while four were denied (1.8%).
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 West Virginia during 2024, with 87 petitions (38.7% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 98.9%. Meanwhile, the Health Care and Social Assistance industry was the second largest contributor, filing 72 petitions (32% of the total), with an approval rate of 100%.
The West Virginia employers with the most petitions during 2024 included West Virginia University, which filed 62 petitions with an approval rate of 96.8%, Marshall University with 26 petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and Mahantech Corporation, which filed 25 petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the number of H-1B petitions filed in West Virginia during 2024 decreased by 7.4%.
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 | 87 | 38.7% | 98.9% | 1.1% |
| 2 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 72 | 32% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 44 | 19.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Manufacturing | 8 | 3.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Transportation and Warehousing | 2 | 0.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 2 | 0.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 2 | 0.9% | 50% | 50% |
| 8 | Information | 1 | 0.4% | 0% | 100% |
| 8 | Wholesale Trade | 1 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industries | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia University | Educational Services | 62 | 96.8% | 3.2% |
| Marshall University | Educational Services, Health Care and Social Assistance | 26 | 100% | 0% |
| Mahantech Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 25 | 100% | 0% |
| University Physicians and Surgeons, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 16 | 100% | 0% |
| West Virginia University Medical C | Health Care and Social Assistance | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Camden Clark Physician Inc., Corp. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Charleston Area Medical Center, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| West Virginia University Research Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| West Virginia University Hospitals, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| West Virginia State University | Educational Services | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Keylogic Systems | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| United Hospital Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Nucor Steel West Virginia, LLC | Manufacturing | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Monongalia County Board of Educati | 3 | 100% | 0% | |
| St. Marys Medical Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Sinfotech, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Preston Memorial Hospital, Corp. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Princeton Community Hospital Association, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Heritage Farm Foundation | Wholesale Trade, Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 2 | 50% | 50% |
| Davis Memorial Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Concord University | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Roane County Board of Education | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| American Public Education, Inc. | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Shepherd University | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| AVN Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sogefi USA, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sostos, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Steptoe and Johnson, PLLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sunlune Corporation | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Taishan Resources, LLC | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| The Thrasher Group, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Wheeling Hospital, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| ZDS, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| BCKP Regional Intergovernmental Company | Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Coat of ARMS, LLC | Information | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| Daniels Company West Virginia, Inc. | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Diamond Electric Manufacturing Corporation | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Fitness Fun and Freedom, Inc. | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Gestamp West Virginia, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Glenville State University | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Greenbrier County Board of Educati | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Hospital Development Company D B a | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Iskcon New Vrindaban, Inc. | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| M and S Consulting, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Marshall University Research Corporation | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Mcmillion Research, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| MHI RJ Aviation, Inc. | Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Monongalia County General Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Mountwest Community and Technical | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Quality Insights, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Roxul USA, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |