Blue Island, IL asked in Employment Law and Immigration Law for Illinois

Q: I am currently a full time employee at Amazon so is there is a way to get a green card through the employer?

1 Lawyer Answer
Kevin L Dixler
Kevin L Dixler
Answered
  • Immigration Law Lawyer
  • Milwaukee, WI
  • Licensed in Illinois

A: It depends. Often, not.

In general, you must be lawfully present in the U.S. in order to become a green card holder. If you have been sponsored and approved for an H1-b visa, then Amazon may only need you on a temporary basis, but this is unclear. If you were approved for a USCIS employment authorization card, then more information is needed about how you were approved for the card.

If you entered without inspection, overstayed a visa, fell out of status, or used fake documents to get your job, then these are some reasons for disqualification. In addition, Amazon must agree to petition you for an employment based visa. If Amazon finds out that you are without work authorization, it can end your employment. The job that you will fill must be one in which there is a proven shortage of workers. This makes hiring the foreign born, who are not already green card holders or U.S. citizens much more complicated.

Congress passed a series of laws geared to deter employers from hiring foreigners as more permanent workers. The laws create such restrictions and quotas as to hinder our economy. It is the current misdirected belief of enough members of Congress that foreigners take too many jobs away from Americans. To retard employment in this way hinders economic growth. As a result, the process to test the market is very time consuming and contrary to the growth of businesses in the United States. This means that common sense is not at work. The law restricts your employer's ability to efficiently seek a visa on your behalf.

However, there may be other options, as well. As a result, I strongly recommend an appointment with a competent and experienced immigration attorney before there are any other complications.

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