Orlando PERM Labor Certification Attorneys

Orange County Employment-Based Immigration Lawyers Helping Workers Obtain Green Cards

Does your business have an employment need that you cannot seem to meet? Are you working hard to find the right people, but there just does not seem to be any qualified candidates available? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you clearly need to start looking outside your usual pool of job seekers. In some situations, you might want to consider foreign nationals who originally came to the United States as non-immigrant workers. To do so, however, you will probably need to obtain a specific certification from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The skilled immigration lawyers at Vasquez Law Firm, PLLC, help employers throughout central Florida with the process known as PERM Labor Certification. This process is the most common way for non-immigrant workers to get reclassified as immigrant workers and obtain lawful permanent resident status—also known as a Green Card. Once the PERM process is complete and a Green Card is issued, the worker in question can live and work in the United States for the rest of his or her life.

The Importance of Labor Certification

The United States federal government has a vested interest in protecting the rights and working conditions in the American labor force. This means that it should not—and is not—necessarily easy for a foreign worker to step in and take a job away from a qualified U.S. worker. The PERM Labor Certification process is the primary tool that is used to protect the overall best interests of American workers while allowing employers to find the qualified candidates they need for their business purposes.

How PERM Works

PERM Labor Certification is a multi-step process that allows an employer to seek lawful permanent resident status for a specified applicant. Before a PERM application can even be filed, the employee must submit a description of the job in question to the Department of Labor for a Prevailing Wage Determination. The prevailing wage is the amount that the foreign-born employee must be paid once he or she receives a Green Card.

Once the prevailing wage has been established, you will need to make good faith efforts to find a qualified U.S. worker who could fill the available position. The DOL maintains a list of what must be done based on the type of position that is available. If you receive any responses, you must evaluate all applicants before you can move on to submitting a PERM application.

The PERM certification review process can take several months, but upon receiving your certification, you must apply for an immigrant visa for the intended employee through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). As the employee's sponsor, this application is your responsibility. Once an immigrant visa is issued, the employee can file for a Green Card, either through an Adjustment of Status or consular processing.

Let Us Help You Find the Right People

At Vasquez Law Firm, PLLC, we know how challenging it can be to successfully complete the PERM certification process. There are many requirements, and they all must be met to the satisfaction of the Department of Labor and USCIS. Our attorneys will do everything we can to make the process easier for you and to ensure that you are in full compliance with all applicable rules and regulations. From start to finish, you can depend on us to protect your best interests, as well as those of your company and your sponsored employee.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

If you would like to learn more about the PERM Labor Certification process or you are ready to get started with your application, contact our office. Call 407-955-5000 for a free consultation with a member of the team at Vasquez Law Firm, PLLC, today. We work on behalf of employers and employees throughout central Florida. Hablamos Espanol