Proudly Serving Businesses Across the Nation
Dowd & Company PC provides comprehensive analysis of employment-based immigration options to help employers with potential hires and existing international employees. We know that employers who hire foreign workers face many challenges when it comes to immigration enforcement. From workplace audits to navigating complicated immigration laws, employers need to make sure they are prepared for numerous situations to avoid costly fines and other penalties.
Why Employers Turn to Dowd & Company PC
We offer reliable counsel to employers of all sizes who need assistance complying with federal immigration law requirements. When you choose our firm to represent you, we will work together with you to ensure you are informed and up to date on any immigration laws that can impact your business operation. We will also use our extensive resources and legal insight to help develop effective workplace enforcement provisions.
Employers in Richmond and across the country turn to us because we offer the following comprehensive advising and consulting services:
- Educating clients and developing procedures for completing and maintaining immigration-related employment records
- Performing self-audits on I-9 records and internal practices
- Amending errors and discrepancies in I-9 records
- Drafting responses to letters and notices from the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security
- Creating systems for scheduling and performing re-verifications of employment eligibility
- Due diligence for mergers and acquisitions to help minimize liability for an acquired companies' I-9 errors
- Providing updates on any changes in the law related to workplace immigration enforcement
- Creating response plans for immigration-related requests, raids, and government audits
FAQ: Employer Compliance with Immigration Law
Question #1: Do employers have to use the E-Verify system?
A: Some employers are required to enroll in the E-Verify employment eligibility verification system. This system is managed by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. Employers can voluntarily participate in E-Verify, which allows them to confirm an employee's Social Security number and employment authorization in the government agencies' databases.
Question #2: What is the PERM labor certification application?
A: Employers who wish to sponsor foreign worker employees for a green card must begin by filing a PERM labor certification application. Before an employer can file a PERM application for a foreign worker, they must first test the U.S. labor market to find a qualified US worker through a public recruitment campaign. Employers must keep important documents to prove they comply with the DOL regulations in case of an audit.
Question #3: What are the penalties for violating the PERM program?
A: Employers won't be fined for violating the PERM program. However, they can face criminal charges for fraud or willful misrepresentation. Employers can also be disbarred from the PERM program for up to three years and can even have their previously approved PERM applications revoked.
We Are Here to Guide You Through the Process
Employers who choose Dowd & Company PC for their immigration compliance needs benefit from having our team of highly skilled and responsive legal professionals in their corner. We can help you navigate agency demands for documents and provide detailed feedback and guidance to prepare you for site visits. Our firm has an impressive track record when it comes to assisting clients with immigration compliance issues, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us today.
Call (804) 413-6962 or contact us online to request your case consultation with Dowd & Company PC.