One means by which you may be eligible to obtain a green card in the U.S. is through employment. At Szabo, Zelnick, and Erickson, labor certifications and green card applications are a regular part of our practice. We have helped many families obtain their U.S. permanent resident status through the labor certification maze.
The process for obtaining a green card through employment generally involves an employer sponsor and includes multiple steps. It is also an involved process in which the government has clearly articulated the requirements that must be met in each filing. For most employment based petitions, the employer must obtain a labor certification from the Department of Labor. The employer would then use the labor certification to file an immigrant petition on your behalf. After the immigrant petition is filed and approved, you must then wait for a visa to become available as determined by your priority date.
Once a visa becomes available you may either apply for your green card at a U.S. Consulate, or if you are in the U.S., you may be eligible to apply for your green card by filing the form I-485, Application to Adjust Status.
THE MOST COMMON EMPLOYMENT BASED VISA CATEGORIES ARE:
- Employment Based First (EB-1)
- Employment Based Second (EB-2)
- Employment Based Third (EB-3)
You can find the current priority dates for these categories by clicking here. As you have probably seen if you’ve looked at priority dates, they move in a fairly random way. As such, it’s critical that your case is in a great posture so that you are ready and able to file as soon as your date is current. With our SZE immigration tracking system, we’ll make sure that your green card application is filed at the earliest date.
The process for obtaining your green card through employment is very time consuming, complex…and often a journey that everyone needs to be prepared for. It requires an attorney with significant experience and sound judgment to properly guide you from the start to the conclusion of your case. At SZE, we understand that navigating the green card process can be a challenge and make you feel anxious. Rest assured, we are with you for the entire journey providing solutions to the issues that arise.
If you require assistance with a case or have any questions, please contact our office to arrange a consultation.