employer sponsored green card - who does attorney represent

by Camylle Ondricka 3 min read

A little advice about attorneys for immigration: Most persons who seek H-1B visas and lawful permanent residence through employer sponsorship do so with the aid of an attorney. This is wise because immigration laws and procedures tend to be complex. Do not select an immigration attorney solely on the basis of a referral by a friend or a colleague.

An Immigration Attorney Represents Both the Employer and the Employee.Nov 22, 2021

Full Answer

How does the employer-sponsored green card process work?

Getting an employer sponsored green card is a 3-step process. First, your employer is required to get an approved Labor Certification from the United States Department of Labor (DOL). Second, your employer must file an immigrant petition on your behalf (Form I-140). Third, you are required to either adjust status (Form I-485) or apply for your ...

Which is the best law firm for green card holders?

Jan 29, 2018 · Employer sponsored green card must be petitioned by an US employer. There must be a job offer to a foreign national as one of the criteria. Contact our Chicago Immigration law firm to get your green card process started. Call 773-687-0549!

How can I get a green card through my employer?

Jun 02, 2017 · The employer-sponsored green card process normally begins with the employer obtaining an Application for Permanent Labor Certification and getting it approved by the Department of Labor (DOL). Once the DOL has approved the labor certification, it is the responsibility of the employer to then file Form I-140 , on behalf of the foreign employee.

Can I sponsor my green card through a job offer?

This includes attorney's fees and costs of advertising for the position. Second, once the DOL approves the PERM, you as the employer/sponsor must file an I-140 petition with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The I-140 gives USCIS information on the foreign worker, your company (in particular, evidence such as an annual ...

Should I bring attorney to my green card interview?

Yes, you can bring a lawyer with you to your Green Card interview if you would like. If you have some criminal or immigration issues on your record, it may be a good idea to attend your interview with a lawyer so that they can help you explain these issues.Nov 5, 2020

How much does it cost an employer to sponsor a green card?

Paying Application Fees and Costs Currently (2021), there is no fee for filing the PERM application with the DOL. However, there is a substantial fee that employers are expected to pay when filing the I-140 petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It's $700 as of early 2021.

How does an employer sponsor a green card?

First, your employer is required to get an approved Labor Certification from the United States Department of Labor (DOL). Second, your employer must file an immigrant petition on your behalf (Form I-140). Third, you are required to either adjust status (Form I-485) or apply for your immigrant visa (Form DS-260).

How much does it cost to sponsor an immigrant employee?

In general, a visa sponsorship costs approximately $4000 but may cost $8-9,000 if a company has more than fifty employees and 50% of those employees are foreign nationals....How Much Does It Cost to Sponsor a Visa?Visa/FormCostFraud Prevention and Detection Fee$5004 more rows

Who pays for green card employer or employee?

Per U.S. regulations found at 20 C.F.R. § 656.12, the employer MUST pay ALL of the costs associated with the PERM process.

Can employer sponsor green card without H1B?

Contrary to the popular belief, there is no requirement that an individual be in H1B status before an employer can start the Green Card process. There is also no USCIS requirement that the employee must have been working for a minimum period of time. The Employment based Green Card process can be initiated any time.

How do I ask my employer for green card sponsorship?

There are several ways to go about this.If you are looking for a new job, make it clear that you want to be sponsored at your final interview. ... Set up a formal discussion with your boss after several months at the job. ... Check your company's policy regarding permanent residency. ... Try to qualify for EB1.More items...

Which companies can sponsor green card?

Top 100 Green Card Sponsors -2018 Green Card ReportRankGreen Card SponsorAverage Salary1Cognizant Technology Solutions$83,0912Google$140,4353Amazon$130,5424Intel$123,22322 more rows

Can my own company sponsor my green card?

Typically, the only area where you can sponsor yourself is through employment-based immigration. Even then, you will most likely need an employer to sponsor you. However, there are a few exceptions that make it possible to sponsor yourself for a green card.Jul 27, 2021

What are the risks of sponsoring an immigrant?

The risks of sponsoring an immigrant is high because there are more obligations on the person who signs an affidavit than on the immigrant. The immigrant may quit a job filing a lawsuit against the sponsor requesting support.Jun 1, 2021

How long is a sponsor responsible for an immigrant?

10 yearsAn affidavit of support is a legally enforceable contract, and the sponsor's responsibility usually lasts until the family member or other individual either becomes a U.S. citizen, or is credited with 40 quarters of work (usually 10 years).Mar 19, 2021

Can I quit my job after receive green card?

Once your employment sponsored I-485 is approved, you are a lawful permanent resident able to work for whomever you wish (or not at all). Many attorneys, myself included, advise you to not change positions or employers until 180 days or six months from the date of filing the I-485 or after approval.

What is the law that prohibits employers from discriminating against foreign workers?

U.S. labor law prohibits employers from discriminating against workers on the basis of citizenship or national origin. Discriminatory practices include placing the foreign worker in unfavorable working conditions (as compared to other company employees in similar positions) solely on the basis of the worker's national origin, passing the foreign worker over for promotions or employment advances (also solely on the basis of the worker's national origin), and so forth.

How much does it cost to file an I-140?

Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It's $700 as of early 2021. USCIS is in the process of attempting to change its fee structure, but the changes are currently mired in litigation.

Does the DOL pay prevailing wage?

The DOL then informs the employer of the wage for the position in the worksite location. There is no exception this rule: All employers sponsoring foreign workers must agree to pay and in fact pay the foreign worker the prevailing wage once the worker commences employment.

Can a spouse get a green card?

U.S. immigration law allows immediate family members (spouses and children under the age of 21) to obtain green cards as derivative beneficiaries of foreign workers. The employer is, however, under no obligation to pay for the green cards for these family members.

How does an employer get a green card?

The employer-sponsored green card process normally begins with the employer obtaining an Application for Permanent Labor Certification and getting it approved by the Department of Labor (DOL). Once the DOL has approved the labor certification, it is the responsibility of the employer to then file Form I-140, on behalf of the foreign employee.

How much does it cost to adjust your immigration status?

This form usually takes about six months to process and can cost anywhere between $750 and $1,225 depending on your age. However, adjusting your status is only available to those that are already in the U.S. under a nonimmigrant status. If you are outside the U.S., you will need to go through consular processing.

What is prevailing wage determination?

The first step as the employer is to request a prevailing wage determination (PWD) via the online iCert database. What this system does is determine how much people in those jobs are being paid. 2. Necessary recruiting and advertising of position in the U.S.

How long does it take to get a Perm audited?

An unaudited case can take approximately eight months from the time of filing to certification while an audited case can take fourteen months from filing to certification.

What is EB-3?

Individuals who fall under the EB-3 category include professionals with: Bachelor’s degrees or foreign equivalents. Foreigners with specialized skills which requires min. 2 years of training. The EB-2 process for “other workers” offers the ability for a wide range of applicants to petition.

How long does it take to get an I-140?

On average, the I-140 takes about six months to be processed, though this is heavily dependent on the caseload of your particular USCIS service center. The only way to expedite this process is with an optional service called premium processing. For an additional fee of $1,440, you can shorten your I-140’s processing time to 15 calendar days. If the USCIS fails to adjudicate your petition in the allotted time, you will receive a refund on your premium processing fee and your petition will be processed normally.

Do you have to check the priority date for an EB-1?

No matter whether you apply for the EB-1 or the EB-3, all employer-sponsored green cards are subject to priority dates. Your priority date is the date that the USCIS obtains your green card petition. Then, you will need to check this date against the final action dates given in the monthly visa bulletin released by the Department of State.

How do foreigners get green cards?

One of the most common ways that foreign nationals obtain U.S. green cards is through an employment-based immigration petition. During this process, a U.S. employer sponsors the foreign national for a green card. The typical employment-based petition is based on a Permanent Labor Certification process, referred to as PERM.

What is the process of a Perm?

First, you must complete the PERM labor certification process. This involves the employer advertising the foreign worker's position to see whether any qualified U.S. workers are available for the job. If no U.S. workers are available, the employer files the PERM application with the Department of Labor (DOL).

U.S. Law Protects U.S. Workers Before Allowing Foreign Workers to Obtain Residence

The first thing to understand is that U.S. immigration law is not meant to help you get a work-based green card, nor to help your prospective employer. The rationale behind this process is to give U.S. citizens, green card holders, and other lawful residents the first right to U.S. jobs.

First Steps in Foreign Worker Obtaining an Employment-Based Green Card

As a non-citizen interested in a U.S. employment-based green card, your first step is normally to obtain a job offer from a U.S. employer. Or perhaps you're already working for a U.S. employer on a temporary visa (such as an H-1B for specialty technical workers ), and your employer wants to (or is willing to) make your stay in the U.S. permanent.

Cases Where Foreign Worker Can Initiate the Immigrant Visa Petition

In certain visa categories, the worker can apply for U.S. lawful permanent residence without first going through the PERM labor certification process. These include:

After USCIS Approves Self-Petition or Employer Petition: Foreign Worker's Next Steps

Finally, after the I-140 or other petition has been approved and your Priority Date is "current," you may complete your portion of the application for U.S. lawful permanent residence.

EB-2 National Interest Waiver Green Card

Foreign nationals seeking a national interest waiver green card are requesting that the permanent labor certification or a job offer be waived because your exceptional ability and employment is in the interest of the United States.

EB1a Extraordinary Ability

EB-1 (a) Extraordinary Ability is a first preference employment based green card.

Hire an experienced Chicago Self Sponsored Green Card Immigration Lawyer

Proving extraordinary ability in your related field requires extensive evidence and documentation and most importantly professional guidance and legal skills from our lawyers. The key to a successful self-sponsored green card such as NIW and EB-1 (a) require three crucial factors:

Nonimmigrant Work Visas

Attorney Fee: $2400 (does not include RFE responses, if applicable). Please note that the legal fee may be higher in certain complex cases. In any event, you’ll be provided a written quote before retaining our firm.

Addressing Potential Issues

In every possible instance, we do our best to anticipate any potential issues and address them in advance. For that reason, it’s imperative that you be completely honest and transparent regarding the details of your case during the initial consultation.

Immigration Consultations

SGM Law Group only offers free general consultations to certain individuals/businesses who are looking to retain a law firm for the following cases:

Cost

  • The first question many employers ask is, How much does it cost to sponsor a foreign worker for a green card? The actual cost varies, because the specific circumstances for each employer, foreign worker, and job position are different. However, there are certain financial obligations that all employers must consider when preparing to sponsor a foreign worker. U.S. labor and immigr…
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Funding

  • The vast majority of employers sponsor foreign workers through a process called labor certification (commonly referred to as PERM) wherein the employer must place a series of advertisements for its job opportunity and attest that no qualified U.S. workers applied for the position -- all before so much as contacting the U.S. immigration authorities to start the visa app…
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Risks

  • If the employer fails to cover all of the costs associated with PERM, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) could levy fines or other punishments. This makes it very important for employers to assess and prepare for these costs at the beginning of the sponsorship process.
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Example

  • The prevailing wage can be different for the same positions that are in different locations. For instance, let's say that Employer A is located in rural Texas and wants to hire a foreign worker as a pediatrician. Employer B is located in downtown New York and also wants to hire a foreign worker as a pediatrician. The prevailing wages for a pediatrician in rural Texas and downtown New Yor…
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Sponsorship

  • There is no exception this rule: All employers sponsoring foreign workers must agree to pay and in fact pay the foreign worker the prevailing wage once the worker commences employment. Part of the sponsorship process requires the employer to prove to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that the employer has the financial ability to pay the foreign worke…
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Issues

  • If, however, the worker leaves very soon after receiving the green card, USCIS may feel that the worker and the employer never intended for the worker to permanently work for the employer, and that the entire employer sponsorship process was fraudulent. This issue may come up at the foreign worker's future citizenship interview.
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Significance

  • Violating these labor laws can result in serious consequences for the employer including heavy fines and other punishments.
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