Muncie Reporter

In 2024, all H-1B petitions submitted by Ontario Systems, LLC, the only employer classified under the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry located across Muncie Reporter publication area were approved, according to data provided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services via the H-1B Employer Data Hub.

This represents an approval rate of 100%, which is higher than the average in Indiana across all industries.

That year, the statewide average approval rate for H-1B petitions stood at 98%, slightly higher than 2023's 97.9%. Across the publication area, employers across all industries submitted 32 petitions during the same period, with an approval rate of 100%.

For comparison, the U.S. reported an average approval rate of 98% in 2024.

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 Health Care and Social Assistance industry led the H-1B filings in Muncie Reporter publication area during 2024, with 13 petitions (40.6% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 100%. Meanwhile, the Educational Services industry was the second largest contributor, filing 12 petitions (37.5% of the total), with an approval rate of 100%.

Compared to 2023, the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector saw a 33.3% decrease in the number of H-1B petitions across Muncie Reporter publication area 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	Health Care and Social Assistance	13	40.6%	100%	0%
2	Educational Services	12	37.5%	100%	0%
3	Manufacturing	5	15.6%	100%	0%
4	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	2	6.3%	100%	0%

Company Name	Industry	Total Petitions	% Approved	% Denied
Ball State University	Educational Services	11	100%	0%
Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Physicians, Inc.	Health Care and Social Assistance	11	100%	0%
Canpack US, LLC	Manufacturing	4	100%	0%
Meridian Health Services, Corp.	Health Care and Social Assistance	2	100%	0%
Ontario Systems, LLC	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	2	100%	0%
Ivy Technician Community College	Educational Services	1	100%	0%
Magna Powertrain of America, Inc.	Manufacturing	1	100%	0%