Along with other states, Utah has seen a steady increase in population size with no sign of slowing down. The state’s economy is recovering tremendously from the covid-19 pandemic with a surge in demand sparking many job openings. Even with the positive economic outlook, there are some challenges holding the state back from its full potential. There is a massive labor shortage which is causing a ripple effect of problems for businesses across the state. In total there are an estimated 60,000 unfilled jobs in Utah.
Employers are struggling to find qualified workers for many positions. The most common positions that are hard to fill are in the construction, hospitality, and healthcare industries. If you are an employer struggling to fill a variety of skilled and unskilled jobs, you might consider hiring foreign workers
EB3 category workers are immigrants who come to the United States to perform skilled or unskilled labor, or to invest capital in a U.S. business. There are three subcategories of EB3 workers:
– Professionals with a bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent
– Skilled workers with at least two years of experience/training
– Unskilled workers (also called “other workers”) with less than two years of experience/training
The Process of Hiring Foreign Workers in Utah
There are three key components to the hiring process:
PERM Labor Filing
The first step is to file a PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) application with the US Department of Labor. This application is used to prove that there are no able and willing US workers available to fill the position being offered.
I-140 Petition
The next step is to file an I-140 form with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This form establishes that the foreign worker meets all the requirements for the position being offered. The processing time for this form is around 6 months.
Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing
After the I-140 form has been approved, the foreign worker can either go through adjustment of status or consular processing. Adjustment of status is when the foreign worker changes their status to permanent resident while they are still in the US. Consular processing is when the foreign worker goes back to their home country and applies for a visa through their local US consulate.
Our team has already identified several great candidates interested in working EB3 jobs in Utah. We have years of experience matching employers with EB3 workers for a variety of roles.
In total, the process can take up to 18 months and cost the employer $1,000 in fees. Get started!