Utah Immigration Assistance Center After a decade of unprecedented growth, Utah has the No. 1 economy (U.S. News & World Report, July 2022) and the country’s best economic outlook (Rich States Poor States, April 2022). With this growth comes tremendous opportunities for Utah businesses to expand, creating the need for talent and skills that may not be available locally. The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (Go Utah) houses the Utah Immigration Assistance Center, which provides resources to individuals and businesses to identify immigration pathways to recruit and retain international talent. If a company hires a foreign-based worker, navigating the employment-based visa process can be challenging. The center facilitates learning how to recruit global talent through employment-based visa guides, referrals to local business immigration experts, hosting business roundtables, and other services.
Business Resource Highlights The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) created special economic and trade relationships for the United States, Canada, and Mexico to open a pathway to employing global talent. The Temporary NAFTA (TN) nonimmigrant classification permits qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens to seek temporary entry into the United States to engage in business activities at a professional level. You can review eligibility requirements on USCIS’s website. Recent federal policy changes increased new avenues for American businesses of all sizes to connect with talented researchers and other highly-skilled individuals in STEM fields. Learn more about the federal STEM initiatives on the American Immigration Council website.
Foreign Labor Certification If a company hires a foreign-based worker with specific skills, it’s up to the business to navigate the process of getting them into the U.S. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has identified this process as a Foreign Labor Certification. The certification typically involves getting approval from several government agencies. First, employers must seek labor certification through the U.S. Department of Labor. Next, the employer must petition the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for a visa. Following this, the Department of State issues an immigrant visa number to the foreign worker for U.S. entry. The Utah Department of Workforce Services assists in the Foreign Labor Certification process on its website. Stay updated on the latest news from the Utah Immigration Assistance Center by contacting Natalie El-Deiry, director of Immigration & New American Integration, at natalieeldeiry@utah.gov. Learn more at business.utah.gov/immigration and subscribe to various Go Utah newsletters here.
business.utah.gov/immigration | 801 531 8680