Chicago, Illinois was one of the cities most impacted by covid-19 restrictions and regulations. Many businesses couldn’t survive and those that did had to let go of staff members. As of 2021 the state had nearly 400,000 open positions, with many of them in the service and construction industries. As the city starts to recover, they are investing in infrastructure and getting back to normal life which has sparked the need for employees in construction and service.
However, many employers in the state are struggling to fill out their staff due to the extremely competitive labor market. Business owners are having to raise wages, improve benefits, and invest in developing their employees.
What are EB3 Category Workers?
The Employment-Based Immigration visa has three categories, with the third category (EB3) being for unskilled workers. To qualify as an EB3 worker, applicants must have a full-time job offer from a U.S. employer in an occupation that does not require a college degree. The EB3 visa allows immigrants the ability to live and work permanently in the United States.
There are two subcategories for EB3 visas:
-The first subcategory is for professionals, which requires a bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent.
-The second subcategory is for unskilled workers, which does not require a college degree. This is the category that is most relevant for hiring in Chicago.
EB3 Visa workers are entitled to the following benefits:
-Permanent residency in the United States
-The ability to live and work permanently in the United States
-The ability to bring their spouse and minor children to live in the United States
-The ability to apply for U.S. citizenship (after meeting certain requirements)
Why Hire EB3 Category Workers?
-They are highly skilled and have a lot to offer your company.
-They are more loyal than other workers on average as it is more complicated for them to find different jobs.
-They are motivated by the opportunity to earn permanent US citizenship.
Learn more about how EB3 workers can solve your labor shortages!
Process for Hiring Foreign Workers in Chicago
To hire an EB3 worker in the unskilled category, employers must go through the following key steps:
PERM Labor Certification
The first step is to obtain a PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) labor certification from the Department of Labor. The PERM labor certification verifies that there are no able, willing, and qualified U.S. workers available to fill the position and that hiring a foreign worker will not adversely affect the wages or working conditions of U.S. workers similarly employed.
I-140 Immigrant Petition
The next step is to file an Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker with USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). This petition must be filed by the employer on behalf of the foreign worker.
Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing
The third step is for the foreign worker to apply for an immigrant visa through Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing.
If the foreign worker is already in the United States, they can file for Adjustment of Status. If the foreign worker is outside of the United States, they will need to go through Consular Processing.
In all, the entire process takes roughly 18 months and costs the employer about $1,000 in fees.
The process may seem daunting, but with the help of an experienced team it can be a smooth process.