Ted H. Kim, Associate Director Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate for USCIS | https://www.naco.org/
Ted H. Kim, Associate Director Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate for USCIS | https://www.naco.org/
All of the petitions submitted in the period were approved.
Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.
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 average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the United States in 2024 stood at 98%, higher than 2023's 97.3%. Statewide, Illinois employers across all industries submitted 19,923 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 98.7%.
While the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led the H-1B filings with 10,665 petitions, representing 53.5% of all submissions in Illinois during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Finance and Insurance industry, which accounted for 2,097 petitions and represented 10.5% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Finance and Insurance industry, 10,502 were approved and 163 were denied.
The Illinois employers which made the most petitions in the Accommodation and Food Services sector during 2024 included Mcdonalds Corporation with 66 petitions, Hyatt Corporation with 14 petitions, and The Martin-Brower Company, LLC with six petitions.
Compared to 2023, the Accommodation and Food Services sector in Illinois saw a 39% increase 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 | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 10,665 | 53.5% | 98.5% | 1.5% |
| 2 | Finance and Insurance | 2,097 | 10.5% | 99.4% | 0.6% |
| 3 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,978 | 9.9% | 99.3% | 0.7% |
| 4 | Manufacturing | 1,744 | 8.8% | 99.1% | 0.9% |
| 5 | Educational Services | 1,221 | 6.1% | 98% | 2% |
| 6 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 803 | 4% | 98.6% | 1.4% |
| 7 | Information | 303 | 1.5% | 99.3% | 0.7% |
| 8 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 251 | 1.3% | 98.8% | 1.2% |
| 9 | Wholesale Trade | 189 | 1% | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| 10 | Retail Trade | 141 | 0.7% | 99.3% | 0.7% |
| 11 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 131 | 0.7% | 97.7% | 2.3% |
| 12 | Accommodation and Food Services | 107 | 0.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 81 | 0.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 14 | Construction | 63 | 0.3% | 95.2% | 4.8% |
| 14 | Transportation and Warehousing | 63 | 0.3% | 98.4% | 1.6% |
| 16 | Utilities | 40 | 0.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 17 | Public Administration | 25 | 0.1% | 96% | 4% |
| 18 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 17 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 19 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 3 | 0% | 100% | 0% |
| 20 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1 | 0% | 100% | 0% |
Top Employers in Accommodation and Food Services Industry in Illinois, 2024
| Rank | Company Name | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mcdonalds Corporation | 66 | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Hyatt Corporation | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | The Martin-Brower Company, LLC | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Golden Partners Restaurant Group | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Lakhani Hospitality, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Pinstripes, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Fuji Marion, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Lakha Enterprise, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Mochinut Chinatown, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Flying Food Group, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | The X Pot Chicago Wagyu House, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Keshav USA, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Mcdonalds USA, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | CJI Entertainment, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Charlie Baggs, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Tasting India, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Hotyd, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Maestro Food Company | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | 10 Villapark, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Strings Ramen, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Great Lakes Services D B a GRE, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Laquinta Rosemont Company | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Roti Restaurants, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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