The United States at its best, is a country built upon immigration and a home to several cultures and ethnicities. At its core, the country is a collection of immigrants dating back to its first settlers. Each immigrant comes to the US searching for a new start and contributes something unique to the nation.
The pandemic greatly disrupted immigrants of all statuses and their ability to travel to and from the United States. There were travel bans put in place with the goal of curbing the spread of the virus. Additionally, as the pandemic put several Americans out of work, the Trump Administration created a policy that temporarily suspended the entry of certain immigrants in the hopes of keeping jobs open for American citizens.
Since the initial wave of pandemic induced layoffs, the job market has strongly rebounded with an unprecedented amount of new jobs being created. However, business are finding it difficult to fill these roles. The US Chamber estimates roughly 10 million open jobs in the US, yet only about 6 million unemployed US citizens.
To solve the country’s current worker deficit, it is necessary to rely on what built this country in the first place — immigration. Hiring foreign workers is a great option for any employer facing staffing shortages or looking to fill open roles.
Our team conists of Green Card experts who have experience executing this process for business in all industries and of all sizes.
Hiring Foreign Workers in Three Steps
There are three steps to hiring an EB3 category worker:
The PERM Labor Filing
The first step is to file a PERM Labor Certification Application with the U.S. Department of Labor. This application verifies that there are no qualified, willing, and able American workers to fill the position being offered to the immigrant worker.
The I-140 Immigrant Petition:
After the Department of Labor approves the PERM application, the employer will then file an I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The I-140 petition must include evidence that the foreign worker meets the requirements for their profession, as well as evidence of the job offer from the U.S. employer.
The Adjustment of Status
The final step is for the foreign worker to eitherAdjustment of Statusif they are already in the United States or to undergo Consular Processingif they are outside of the United States. Once this final step is complete, the foreign worker will have their green card and be able to work in the United States indefinitely.
These steps included several nuances and can be intimidating to tackle alone. Fortunately, we have a wealth of experience with each stage of this process and will guide you every step of the way to ensure a successful outcome.
Altogether, the entire process takes between 12 and 18 months and the fees for the employer are roughly $1,000 in total.
Benefits of Hiring Foreign Workers
There are several benefits to hiring foreign workers. First and foremost, it can help businesses fill staffing shortages quickly and efficiently. Additionally, foreign workers often bring a unique skill set or perspective to the workplace that can be beneficial for businesses.
Perhaps the most appealing part of hiring a foreign worker is that they are far more loyal than the general US workforce. On average, EB3 workers stay with their employer almost twice as long as the average US worker. This is likely due to the fact that it is much more complicated for foreign workers to find new employment in the United States.
With that said, EB3 cateogry workers can not only solve your immediate staffing shortage problems, but they will likely be a great long-term asset to your company as well.
States with the Greatest Need for EB3 Workers
Given the large amount of open jobs and limited number of open workers, the worker shortage is impacting each state in the United States. However, certain states are being hit harder than others.
For example, states like California and Illinois, that were more strict on Covid policies are struggling to shock their economies back to life.
Meanwhile other states like North Carolina, Texas ,and Florida, who have received a large influx of new residents, are struggling to accommodate heightened demand from restauarants to the need for improved infrastructure and new housing units.
It’s important to note that while each state has different laws and regulations surrounding the hiring of foreign workers, the process for hiring an EB3 worker is generally the same across all states.
Frequently Asked EB3 Questions
Q: What is an EB3 category worker?
A: An EB3 category worker is a foreign national who has been offered a full-time, permanent position in the United States.
Q: What are the benefits for EB3 workers?
A: The benefits for EB3 workers include the ability to live and work in the United States indefinitely, as well as access to social security and Medicare. Additionally, EB3 workers are eligible for green card sponsorship for their spouse and children.
Q: How long does the process take?
A: The entire process takes between 12 and 18 months.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: The fees for the employer are roughly $1,000 in total.
Q: What are the most common issues employers face when hiring EB3 workers?
A: The most common issues employers face when hiring EB3 workers are finding qualified candidates and navigating the visa process.
Q: Where are most EB3 workers from?
A: We have experience processing EB3 visas from several countries including but not limited to The Phillipines, Brazil, India, Pakistan, Canada, and Mexico.