How to Sponsor Employee Green Cards as a US Company

Nonimmigrant work visas are a temporary immigration solution. Green card sponsorship is the next step to attracting, retaining, and supporting foreign-born talent.

With a green card, your employees become lawful permanent residents in the United States. That means no more time-consuming visa applications or strict visa regulations.

As a US company, you can sponsor green cards for both current and prospective employees. Depending on the foreign worker’s qualifications, there are several paths to a green card, each with nuances.

This guide will cover everything you need to know before sponsoring an employee’s green card. If you still have questions, our immigration team will happily discuss them with you during a free consultation.

What is an employer-sponsored green card?

A green card, also called a permanent resident card, enables foreign nationals to live and work in the US without a visa. US employers can sponsor green cards for employees.

As an employer sponsor, US companies support the immigration process and typically employ foreign nationals throughout the green card process.

See also: Streamline international hiring with EOR visa sponsorship

What are the benefits of sponsoring an employee green card?

As an employer sponsor, you reap several benefits, such as:

• Attract top talent: Green card sponsorship is a life-changing company benefit to help you stand out against other employers
• Retain current employees: Work visas are temporary. The most common work visa, H-1B, is valid for a maximum of six years. Retain your best employees by offering them a permanent immigration solution that incentivizes them to stay with the company long-term
• Cut cost and save time: Most work visas must be renewed every few years. Renewals can be time-consuming and expensive. Once a US permanent resident, your employees will never need a visa again
• Support employee family members: When you sponsor an employee work visa, you also enable their spouse and children (unmarried and under 21 years) to gain permanent resident status

See also: Dependent Visa Support: A Guide for Global Businesses

How to sponsor an employee green card from inside the US

The green card process is straightforward, but it might be more complex than you’re expecting. For employment-based immigration, the process is as follows.

Step 1: Determine employee eligibility and select a visa category

There are several employment-based visa categories, each with unique requirements and different timelines. Before proceeding, make sure that your employee qualifies. Each category is nuanced, so click the links to read further:

• EB-1A: For individuals at the top of their field, eligible for self-petitioning; no PERM
• EB-1B: For professors and researchers, no PERM
• EB-1C: For multinational managers and executives; no PERM
• EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW): For individuals with work of "national importance; eligible for self-petitioning; no PERM
• EB-2 PERM: For individuals with an advanced degree or extraordinary ability, PERM required
• EB-3: For skilled, professional, or other workers, PERM required
• EB-4: For special immigrants; no PERM
• EB-5: For immigrant investors; no PERM

See also: Self-Verify Global Employee Visa Eligibility in Minutes

Step 2: Permanent labor certification application (if applicable)

The program for electronic review management (PERM) labor certification process is necessary for EB-2 PERM and EB-3 petitions. You can jump to step 3 if applying for a different visa category.

To complete the PERM process, you must submit an application to the Department of Labor (DOL) to demonstrate that no qualified US workers are available for the job. From start to finish, this step can take anywhere from 6 to 18 months.

Step 3: File form I-140, immigrant petition for alien worker

Next, you must submit an immigrant visa petition to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The petition includes legal forms, immigration documents, and evidence showing your employee meets the unique requirements for the applicable visa category.

Step 4: Adjustment of status application process

Once the employee’s priority date is current on the visa bulletin, you can file the adjustment of status application. The employee’s priority date is set on the PERM filing date or I-140 petition filing date (if no PERM was filed).

Once USCIS approves the adjustment of status application, the employee will receive their green card in the mail. Once they have the physical green card, they can begin living and working in the US as permanent residents.

See also: Employee Mobility Services: Easy Relocations for International Companies

Simplify green card sponsorship with Deel Immigration

Green card sponsorship is easy when you work with the right immigration provider. We handle everything from high-level immigration strategies to complicated legal forms.

To see how we can help, book a demo with an expert today.