Chicago Immigration Lawyer

The labor certification process is conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor to confirm that there are no U.S. workers who are reasonably able, willing, and qualified to take the position in question before granting a foreign worker a visa. This process is in place as a protection for U.S. workers.

An individual does not necessarily have to be sponsored by an employer if he or she qualifies for the national interest waiver or has an extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics through sustained national or international acclaim. Our attorney can help you determine if this is the case for you.

Not necessarily. If a labor certification or immigrant visa petition is pending, an individual cannot begin working. However, if that individual obtains or maintains a non-immigrant working visa status, he or she can continue to work and then file for adjustment of status. Another option would be to file an Application for Employment Authorization, which would allow the individual to work.

In most cases, an individual may travel while the labor certification process or other petitions are pending. Speak with our attorney to ensure that this applies to your case before traveling.

USCIS stands for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. It functions as part of the Department of Homeland Security and supervises legal immigration to the United States. The USCIS must approve green cards, work permits, naturalization, visas, and other immigration-related applications and petitions.