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Grand Rapids Reporter

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

H-1B approvals for employers classified under Educational Services industry across Grand Rapids Reporter publication area in 2024

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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

In 2024, nine of the 10 H-1B petitions submitted by employers classified under the Educational Services industry located across Grand Rapids 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 90%, which is lower than the average in Michigan across all industries.

That year, the statewide average approval rate for H-1B petitions stood at 98.2%, slightly higher than 2023's 97.4%. Across the publication area, employers across all industries submitted 333 petitions during the same period, with an approval rate of 98.2%.

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 Grand Rapids Reporter publication area during 2024, with 115 petitions (34.5% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 100%. Meanwhile, the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry was the second largest contributor, filing 108 petitions (32.4% of the total), with an approval rate of 97.2%.

Calvin University and Grand Rapids Christian School Association with one other employer led the industry in the publication area with the highest approval rate of 100% each.

Compared to 2023, the Educational Services sector saw a 33.3% decrease in the number of H-1B petitions across Grand Rapids 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.

H-1B Petitions by Industry in Grand Rapids Reporter Publication Area, 2024
RankIndustryTotal Petitions% of All Submissions% Approved% Denied
1Health Care and Social Assistance11534.5%100%0%
2Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services10832.4%97.2%2.8%
3Manufacturing6118.3%98.4%1.6%
4Finance and Insurance154.5%100%0%
5Wholesale Trade113.3%100%0%
6Educational Services103%90%10%
7Other Services (except Public Administration)20.6%100%0%
8Real Estate and Rental and Leasing10.3%100%0%
8Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services10.3%100%0%
Employer H-1B Petitions in Grand Rapids Reporter Publication Area During 2024
Company NameIndustryTotal Petitions% Approved% Denied
Dematic, Corp.Manufacturing5398.1%1.9%
William Beaumont HospitalHealth Care and Social Assistance40100%0%
Corewell Health Formerly Spectrum Health SystemHealth Care and Social Assistance30100%0%
Infyshine, Inc.Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services2491.7%8.3%
Spectrum Health Primary Care PartnersHealth Care and Social Assistance24100%0%
Van Andel Research InstituteProfessional, Scientific, and Technical Services20100%0%
Aventure Systems, LLCProfessional, Scientific, and Technical Services18100%0%
Gordon Food Service, Inc.Wholesale Trade11100%0%
Initech Global, LLCProfessional, Scientific, and Technical Services10100%0%
Priority HealthFinance and Insurance9100%0%
Vernus Technologies, Inc.Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services9100%0%
Sena Info Technologies, Inc.Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services9100%0%
Oakwood Healthcare, Inc.Health Care and Social Assistance8100%0%
Calvin UniversityEducational Services6100%0%
ECM Solutions, LLCProfessional, Scientific, and Technical Services5100%0%
Steelcase, Inc.Manufacturing5100%0%
Lakeland Hospitals at Niles and St. Joseph, Inc.Health Care and Social Assistance4100%0%
Marvik Consulting, LLCProfessional, Scientific, and Technical Services3100%0%
Priority Health Managed Benefits IFinance and Insurance3100%0%
Advantage Health/Saint Mary S Medical GroupHealth Care and Social Assistance2100%0%
TGW Systems, Inc.Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services2100%0%
Grand Rapids Christian School AssociationEducational Services2100%0%
Pennock HospitalHealth Care and Social Assistance2100%0%
Bethany Christian ServicesHealth Care and Social Assistance2100%0%
Innov8 Fund, LLCManufacturing2100%0%
Progressive AE, Inc.Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services2100%0%
Open Systems Technologies DE, LLCProfessional, Scientific, and Technical Services1100%0%
Visiting Nurse Services of Western MichiganHealth Care and Social Assistance1100%0%
Reed City Hospital CorporationHealth Care and Social Assistance1100%0%
Renal Associates of West MichiganHealth Care and Social Assistance1100%0%
Ross Recruiting, Inc.Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services1100%0%
VA Enterprises, LLCProfessional, Scientific, and Technical Services10%100%
Twisthink, Inc.Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services1100%0%
Treetops CollectiveOther Services (except Public Administration)1100%0%
ABC Technologies Michigan, Inc.Manufacturing1100%0%
Alliant Enterprises, LLCManufacturing1100%0%
Array of Engineers, LLCProfessional, Scientific, and Technical Services1100%0%
BFP Enterprises, LLCProfessional, Scientific, and Technical Services1100%0%
Cardinal Senior Management, LLCHealth Care and Social Assistance1100%0%
Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids Nonprofit Housing CorporationHealth Care and Social Assistance1100%0%
Eenhoorn, LLCReal Estate and Rental and Leasing1100%0%
Forest Hills Public SchoolsEducational Services10%100%
Grand Rapids Label CompanyManufacturing1100%0%
Heritage Reformed Congregation ofOther Services (except Public Administration)1100%0%
Homeward Health, Inc.Health Care and Social Assistance1100%0%
Lacroix Electronics MI, LLCManufacturing1100%0%
Lafleur Godfrey, LLCFinance and Insurance1100%0%
Lakeland Physician Care NetworkHealth Care and Social Assistance1100%0%
Lambert Global, LLCProfessional, Scientific, and Technical Services1100%0%
Living Stones AcademyEducational Services1100%0%
Luke Bagnall Insurance Agency, Inc.Finance and Insurance1100%0%
Materials Testing Consultants10%100%
Mecosta County Medical CenterHealth Care and Social Assistance1100%0%
Northpointe BankFinance and Insurance1100%0%

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