obtaining permits for Mexicans to work in The USA

[pianoheat]

I'm looking for help. I have two friends who are Mexican potters and Another friend that owns an American pottery production Company in Colorado Springs. My American friend would like to have the Mexican potters work in his shop for up to 3 years. I have looked into the process and it makes my head hurt my heart as well for that matter. All the parties know each other well because the potters worked with us in Guadalajara for 6 years. The potters have passports we need help with the work permits. This could be a life changing event for them because there is ultra cheap housing across the street from the facility and they would be paid $18 / U.S. per hour. Does anyone know someone that can make this happen.

[DML]

My friend runs a business that helps Mexicans obtain visas for the US and Canada to work. He is in the small buidling on Campanero (where Cowfee is located). It is called Super-Visas y Pasaportes. Their nubmer is 473-732-2508 and here is their FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/supervisasypasa...b=overview

[Doyle Phillips]

I've done this professionally and it gets harder all the time. Reply to me dphoydia@gmail.com and i'll say more about "homeland security" and the cost
of this process.

[mr bill]

Also you could contact Martha Roberts, one of the founding members of this website.

She is now living in the States but for several years ran a business similar to the one DML mentioned.

Here e-mail is here

[meroberts]

Hi everyone,

Here I am. Thank you Bill, you are so kind. I now live in the Washington, D.C. area, "where it all happens". I founded and operated "Visas y Pasaportes" ™ at Plaza San Javier, from 2007 until my departure last year. I am an "Immigration Specialist" for tourist, resident, and work visas in the US and Mexico. I am fully bilingual, bi-cultural, and bi-national. We successfully received approval for 90% of our applicants, and being the former "Warden" in Guanajuato for the US Embassy didn't hurt. I am pretty sure that folks down there can attest to that. I processed Mexican visas for a few down there.

Doyle Phillips, your new "Warden," is one of my representatives in Guanajuato. Together, we processed work visas. We still do. There are several types for which to apply. Too many to mention here. As Doyle stated in his message, work visas are not only complex, but there is a way that you have to do it. There are many layers in the process. Both, employer and workers will have SEVERAL FEES TO PAY to obtain them, and TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. In the end the employer pays a base fee of $2,000 USD and each worker pays $1,200 for work visas. In addition, they pay for their travel expenses to the border, as well as to the job location, unless the employer is willing to absorb that cost as well for each of them. Visas cannot be guaranteed. Ultimate, the US Consular Agent at the border, is the only one who can approve or disapprove ANY type visa.

DML suggested "Super Visas y Pasaportes." That may be a good local option. Russell was supposed to buy my business but could not make a decision based on what I told him. I trust he has gained the experience since he proceeded to open the business on his own. One of my former employees also opened his own business after I left. He would be a good option to process tourist visas. That was his specialty, and he did a great job. Doyle and I handled the work visas.

Here is my ONE TIME FREE ADVICE. Ask whoever offers to do your visas, "how many workers have you sent, what kind of visas can you process, and who is your agent in the US?" Employers CAN be their own agents (but they will not even try). They hire an experienced and seasoned agent up here.

There must be an agent in the US. It's a requirement. A word of caution, it is costly to use inexperienced processors or US agents. Once you pay them, and the US Government, THERE IS NO REFUND. It is a lot of work and it is costly. You would have to pay again. You need processors that as we, at "Visas y Pasaportes" say, "Can do it right the first time."

So, I'd be willing to have a conversation between the interested parties on Skype, phone, and/or in writing. Doyle and I can handle the logistics. By the way, "VISAS y PASAPORTES" as well as Mexican Workers, are still active companies, but we now operate from D.C., the place to be... ;=)

Best regards everyone, I miss you guys,

xoxoxoxoxo

Martha E. Roberts, Owner and Operator
"Visas y Pasaportes" ™ Washington, D.C.
Tel.: 301 674 5311
E-mails: meroberts.us@gmail.com (for US visas), and
meroberts.mx@gmail.com (for Mexican Visas)

[jesm]

So good to have Martha back on the board. Sounds like you are back home in DC and doing well. We miss you mucho!
Susan and I offer her the strongest personal and professional reference. She is a true pro, and always gets the job done.

[meroberts]

Thank you so much Jessie and Sue. I'll visit you one of these days. Can't wait to go to breakfast on Sunday. I may be going sooner than I thought. Hugs and kisses you two. Miss you.

Martha

[Wyntopia1]

Thought I would chime in on this issue. I am a US attorney and do a lot of immigration work. I am not giving out any legal advice with this post. I don't personally know any of the various businesses that have been mentioned. The visas that we are discussing fall under the H-2 visa program. My husband and I have a business that works with US companies to obtain these visas.

There is something known as an H-2B visa that is designed to bring 'unskilled' foreign non-agricultural workers to the US to work for a period of time. There were court cases that recently came through the federal system that shut down the program in March of this year (it is now running again). The issue revolved around balancing US business interests while protecting foreign workers. The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor will be publishing new laws soon, hopefully by the end of this month. I suspect some of the changes will deal with the fees that can be lawfully charged to foreign workers to obtain these work permits.

I'm always happy to field any questions about these types of visas. We will be back in Gto at the end of next month. Looking forward to seeing everyone then!

[meroberts]

Thank you so very much for your input. I would love to talk to you directly, if possible. I am just re-grouping to start processing applications again for 2016. This year's season has already started and the workers are already here. I have to review the new changes.

If you would be so kind, please call me (301 674 5311), we can discuss the possibility of working on these together, if you are interested. Or e-mail me your phone number and I will call you. (meroberts.us@gmail.com) I have a database of twelve hundred employees who are anxious to come back to work legally in the US. It will keep us busy.

Thanks again,

Martha Roberts

[Wyntopia1]

For those interested, the new H-2B visa regulations were release yesterday. These changes were a 'long-time' coming and will concretely benefit foreign workers. Like I said in my previous post, I am not giving out any legal advice.

Some of the most significant changes to this visa program include:

1) increased wages for most workers (in most cases, a few dollars more per hour);
2) employers must now pay transport for workers to and from the US;
3) requiring employers to provide info to foreign workers about their legal rights;
4) Requiring US businesses to pay visa and related fees for foreign workers. Foreign workers cannot legally be charged for these services.

We expanded into these visas as we finished work on our house in Gto and our workers started asking if I could help them get a work visa for the States. If anyone has Mexican friends who are thinking about applying for one of these visas, I am happy to answer any questions and I'm specifically interested in letting them know about their rights with this visa program. This would be free of charge. I am not soliciting business with this- all of my clients are US businesses, not any foreign workers.

Here is a link to a quick overview on the law changes:

http://www.fronteravisa.com/staying-current/

Martha- I would be happy to discuss these changes with you. I will contact you next week to discuss!