Smart Workforce Solutions

Immigrant Labor

Over the past several years, the quality of life, low cost of living, and vast employment opportunity has attracted an immigrant workforce to Southwest Missouri. Much of this workforce is characterized as dependable and hard-working. Employers wishing to utilize the immigrant workforce should consider the following resources for compliance.

Employment Authorization:  Employers are required to complete Employment Eligibility Verification forms for all employees, including U.S. citizens.

Foreign Labor Certification:  Employers who wish to hire foreign workers on a permanent or temporary basis must file a Foreign Labor Application with the Division of Workforce Development (DWD). DWD staff process the application and gathers information that forms the basis for the U.S. Department of Labor to grant or deny labor certification applications.
In the absence of available, willing and qualified U.S. workers, employers may file the following types of applications:

• Permanent Labor Certification:  Foreign workers on a permanent basis. Effective March 28, 2005 per Federal Register 20 CFR Parts 655 and 656 DWD will no longer be accepting Permanent Laborer Certification applications.
• Temporary Labor Certification (H2B):  Low skilled foreign workers on a temporary basis (10 months)
• Temporary Agriculture Certification (H2A):  An employer who desires to use nonimmigrant foreign workers in temporary or seasonal agricultural employment must file and H-2A temporary labor certification application.