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Immigration Law Group
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Getting permanent residence (a "green card") through employment takes a long time for most employees. Before any job is given to a foreign national, it is the objective of the US government to insure that a US citizen has a chance to get that job first. It is also the government's objective to insure that the influx of foreign workers does not cause salaries and wages to go down. For these reasons, almost all jobs that may be offered to a foreign national have to first be certified by the US Department of Labor as having been advertised and made available to US citizens, and that the wages offered were the equivalent of the prevailing wage level in that area. Only after it has been determined and proven that no qualified US citizen is available to take the job will the US Department of Labor allow an employer to bring in a foreign national as a permanent employee. (These restrictions do not apply to lawful permanent residents who already have employment authorization. They may apply for and accept any job that is offered.)

The employment category covers both temporary and "immigrant" employer sponsorship. There are numerous employment-based categories and in order to ascertain which type of visa is appropriate, the goals of the employer-sponsor must be evaluated.

Several of the temporary employment-based categories are subject to an annual quota, based on the U.S. government fiscal year, commencing on October 1 of each year. Foreign nationals from Mexico, China, India and the Philippines are subject to separate quotas (meaning a waiting list) for all the immigrant employment-based categories (i.e., permanent residence). This means that an adjustment of status application cannot be filed until the priority date of the I-140 or I-360 becomes current. There are also long waiting lists for many regular employment-based applications.

Our law firm does work for multi-national corporations and small businesses that sponsor foreign nationals for employment visas. We have also successfully represented individual professional foreign nationals seeking self-sponsorship. Please call us at 919-788-9996 to have a board-certified immigration attorney working for you today.


Araneda Law Firm, P.C.
  Important notice: This site contains an overview of current immigration law. But laws can and do change rapidly. Every situation is unique and it may not be possible for you to fully understand your options without competent legal assistance. Please call us with confidence; we have the experience to help you at all levels of the immigration process, including deportation or removal proceedings.

ARANEDA LAW FIRM, P.C.

Attorney Jorgelina E. Araneda also defends Federal criminal cases in the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina.
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