5 Facts To Know About The Employment Visa Process

Under the immigration laws of the United States, every year thousands of visas are given to qualified foreign born applicants wishing to live and work in America.

However, there are certain requirements and details about the process that both employers and immigrants wishing to apply for an employment-based immigration visa should note.

1. The Petition

The start of the process involves first obtaining labor certification from the U.S. Department of Labor and then filing an Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS. Both, however, are typically done by the applicant’s prospective employer or agent.

2. The Meaning Behind The Priority Date

The priority date is basically the date when the clock starts ticking. It begins after the employment visa is filed. How long an applicant must wait to proceed to the next step often depends on when the visa was filed as well as the sponsored category and supply and demand in that category.

3. The Fees

There are many fees involved with employment based visas. Such fees include the visa application process, medical examinations including vaccinations and those relating to obtaining a passport or birth certificate. The fees are typically paid when the applicant’s priority date is met and preprocessing begins. They will also vary depending on the circumstance and country of origin.

4. The Interview

An interview will take place once an applicant has passed all requisite requirements, his or her “file is complete,” and documentation is sent to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where the interview will take place.

5. The Social Security Card

An applicant approved for an employment based immigrant visa will typically obtain a Social Security Number by U.S. mail at the address designated on his or her application form roughly 6 weeks after admission into the country.

For More Information, Call 321-639-1320

If you are looking for answers to specific questions, contact our attorneys at Goldman, Monaghan, Thakkar & Bettin, P.A.. We have assisted many individuals throughout Brevard County, Florida, with the employment visa process. We are happy to talk about the procedure in greater detail as they pertain to your circumstance.