{"id":4496,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:33","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/business-laws-and-regulations\/hiring-immigrant-workers.html"},"modified":"2024-06-06T01:43:12","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T06:43:12","slug":"hiring-immigrant-workers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/business-laws-and-regulations\/hiring-immigrant-workers.html","title":{"rendered":"Hiring Immigrant Workers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Hiring Immigrant Workers<\/h1>\n
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\n By Jade Chounlamountry, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

As you strive to expand your workforce and tap into a broader talent pool, you may consider employing immigrant workers. When hiring immigrant workers, there’s a lot to think about.<\/p>\r\n

This article explores the ins and outs of hiring immigrant workers for full-time positions and what you need to know.<\/p>\r\n

Verifying an Employee’s Employment Eligibility<\/h2>\r\n

When hiring prospective employees, you must verify<\/a> they are eligible to work in the United States. To do so, you must file an Employment Eligibility Verification form (Form I-9<\/a>) within three days of hiring the employee.<\/p>\r\n

The I-9 form provides the procedure for verifying an employee’s eligibility to work. These include providing a Social Security number or other documents required for verification.<\/p>\r\n

Employment-Based Immigration<\/h2>\r\n

There are several ways to immigrate to the United States from foreign countries. For those who wish to immigrate to work in the U.S.<\/a>, there is the option of applying for and obtaining an employment visa.<\/p>\r\n

There are employment-based nonimmigrant visas and immigrant visas. The key difference between these employment visas is their purpose. The first is for those seeking temporary work authorization in the United States. In contrast, the second is for immigrant workers aiming to work and stay in the U.S. permanently.<\/p>\r\n

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services<\/a> (USCIS) and the U.S. Department of Labor<\/a> (DOL) provide helpful information about employment-based immigration.<\/p>\r\n

Immigrant Visas<\/h2>\r\n

If you have found an immigrant worker you would like to sponsor for a green card (permanent resident status), there are specific steps you must take. It’s important to know that sponsoring an employee for a green card can be difficult. The waiting period for a green card can take several years, depending on the employee’s country of origin.<\/p>\r\n

In most cases, you must show that no U.S. citizens are available for the position. You must go through the PERM Labor Certification<\/a> process to show this. This process generally requires you to:<\/p>\r\n