Sponsoring a Foreign Worker for US Employment

Our Chicago immigration lawyers can help employers to sponsor workers for a green card through employment.  There are many different nonimmigrant classifications that permit employment in the United States. Typically, the employment "sponsorship" process involves petitioning the USCIS for a determination of whether the job requirements and noncitizen's credentials match the requirements of the classification requested. Some nonimmigrant classifications do not require approval of a petition by the USCIS, as an application is made directly at the U.S. Consulate abroad. Whether a petition is first filed with the USCIS, or an application is made directly at the U.S. Consulate, admission to the U.S. in a particular nonimmigrant category is done at the U.S. port of entry.

Most noncitizens in EB-2 and EB-3 employment-based classifications cannot receive immigrant visa unless the Secretary of Labor has determined that there are not enough domestic workers available in the United States to perform the intended employment in the part of the United States where the noncitizen will be employed and that the noncitizen's immigration will not adversely affect wages and working conditions in the United States. The employer may not file an immigrant petition with USCIS unless the employer has obtained a labor certification, and includes the labor certification with the petition. The employer obtains this labor certification as provided in regulations published by the U.S. Department of Labor using PERM.

We can help you and your business navigate effectively through the maze of immigration and nationality laws to help you sponsor a foreign national who may have critical skills for your business. Our goal is to make sure you are able to hire and place employees with the skills your company needs in the appropriate office or geographic area.

Call us at 773-516-4100 or contact us online for a consultation to discuss your immigration law issues or questions.