Ur Mendoza Jaddou, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (left) and Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director. | https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/organization/leadership
Ur Mendoza Jaddou, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (left) and Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director. | https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/organization/leadership
For comparison, the nationwide average approval rate is 98%.
That year, the average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the U.S. stood at 98%, slightly higher than the 97.3% recorded in 2023. Statewide, employers in Iowa across all industries submitted 1,587 petitions during the same period, with an approval rate of 98.1%.
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 Manufacturing industry led H-1B petition approvals in the East Central Iowa News publication area during 2024, filing a total of 17 petitions (31.5% of all submissions) and receiving approvals for all of them. The Educational Services industry followed, with 15 petitions (27.8% of all submissions) and an approval rate of 100%.
Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.
The employers that filed the most petitions in the area during 2024 included Pella Corporation with 15 petitions and all of them approved, Trustees of Grinnell College with nine petitions and all of them approved, and Sciplay Games, LLC with seven petitions filed and an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, Iowa saw a 10.2% 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 | Manufacturing | 17 | 31.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 15 | 27.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 7 | 13% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4 | 7.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 7.4% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Utilities | 3 | 5.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | Finance and Insurance | 2 | 3.7% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 1.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 8 | Public Administration | 1 | 1.9% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industries | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pella Corporation | Manufacturing | 15 | 100% | 0% |
| Trustees of Grinnell College | Educational Services | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Sciplay Games, LLC | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Agencybloc, LLC | Finance and Insurance, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Cedar Falls Utilities | Utilities | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Mahaska County Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Distek Integration, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Central College | Educational Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Ellsworth Municipal Hospital D B a | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| English Valleys School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Intraco, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Pella Christian Grade School | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Pella Christian High School Society | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| City of Cedar Falls | Public Administration | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Pella Regional Health Center | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Red Fish Electric Solar, LLC | Utilities | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ring-O-Matic, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Schuring and Uitermarkt, P C | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Capitol Resources, Inc. | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| South Tama County Community School District | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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