Labor Certification is a formal process required by U.S. immigration authorities to demonstrate that there are no qualified U.S. workers available for a specific job position, thereby allowing an employer to hire a foreign worker. The certification is typically a prerequisite for certain employment-based visa applications, such as the H-1B or PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) process. The purpose of labor certification is to ensure that hiring a foreign worker will not negatively impact the wages or working conditions of U.S. workers in similar roles.
For example, if a technology company wants to hire a software engineer from abroad, it must first obtain labor certification to prove that it has made genuine efforts to recruit U.S. candidates and that no qualified local applicants are available for the position.
Related Terms:
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
