The H-2B work visa program allows U.S. companies to bring in guest workers from abroad .
Supporters say temporary guest workers reduce illegal immigration, critics say they take jobs from Americans.
Over the past decade, federal data shows companies have requested H-2B visas for more than 1.3 million jobs ? from landscape workers to hotel housekeepers, stable hands to soccer coaches.
What kinds of businesses in our area are applying for foreign guest workers? What kind of jobs are they unable to fill with domestic workers? What do these jobs pay?
Below is a source to find out the H-2B application data obtained from two of these agencies: the Foreign Labor Certification Data Center in the Dept. of Labor (FY2000-2009) and U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Dept. of Homeland Security (FY 2006- June 2010).
H2-B Temporary Guest Workers: Search Labor Certification Applications
It is interesting how many foreign guest workers are being hired when we have such a high unemployment.
Many of the workers will be difficult to trace to a specific employers because they hire them from a front company that contracts them out.
In addition although these are suppose to be "temporary workers" there are ways that companies can keep the same workers indefinitely by using different front companies to do the hiring.
Below is only a partial list of local businesses hiring foreign workers:
LABORER, LANDSCAPE
Employer InfoROFESSIONAL OUTDOOR SERVICES, SANTA ROSA BEACH, Florida
Actual Work State:Florida
Workers:25
Case Status:CERTIFIED
Certification Duration:2/17/2009 to 12/15/2009 (10 mo.)
Pay Rate:$8.03/Hourly
Prevailing Wage:$8.03/Hourly
Employer Agent/Attorney:LAURA CHRISTIANSEN/LABOR CONSULTANTS INTERNATIONAL
AMUSEMENT PARK WORKER
Employer Info: RECREATION INVESTMENTS OF FLORIDA, INC. DBA THE TR, DESTIN, Florida
Actual Work State: Florida
Workers: 40
Case Status: CERTIFIED
Certification Duration: 2/15/2009 to 11/30/2009 (9 mo.)
Pay Rate: $7.50/Hourly
Prevailing Wage: $6.98/Hourly
Employer Agent/Attorney: PRACTICAL EMPLOYEE SOLUTIONS, VERONICA T STRICKLAN
BEACH LIFEGUARD
Employer Info: DESTIN FIRE CONTROL DISTRICT, DESTIN, Florida
Actual Work State: Florida
Workers: 3
Case Status: CERTIFIED
Certification Duration: 2/15/2008 to 10/31/2009 (20 mo.)
Pay Rate: $14.17/Hourly
Prevailing Wage: $10.48/Hourly
Employer Agent/Attorney: KENDRA S. KEMBEL, ESQ
CLEANER, HOUSEKEEPING
Employer Info: CLEAN UP CLEANING SERVICES, LLC, DESTIN, Florida
Actual Work State: Florida
Workers: 20
Case Status: CERTIFIED
Certification Duration: 2/15/2009 to 11/30/2009 (9 mo.)
Pay Rate: $7.50/Hourly
Prevailing Wage: $7.22/Hourly
Employer Agent/Attorney: DIANA D CARLI, ESQ.
CLEANER, HOUSEKEEPING
Employer Info: EMERALD COAST RESORTS, LLC, DESTIN, Florida
Actual Work State: Florida
Workers: 35
Case Status: CERTIFIED
Certification Duration: 10/1/2009 to 5/30/2010 (7 mo.)
Pay Rate: $7.50/Hourly
Prevailing Wage: $7.25/Hourly
Employer Agent/Attorney: KERRYANNE SCHULTZ
CLEANER, HOUSEKEEPING
Employer Info: FRONT TO BACK CLEANING SERVICES, DESTIN, Florida
Actual Work State: Florida
Workers: 39
Case Status: CERTIFIED
Certification Duration: 9/15/2009 to 7/15/2010 (10 mo.)
Pay Rate: $7.50/Hourly
Prevailing Wage: $7.50/Hourly
Employer Agent/Attorney: N/A
CLEANER, HOUSEKEEPING
Employer Info: SANDESTIN RESORT AND CLUB INC. DBA SANDESTIN GOLF, DESTIN, Florida
Actual Work State: Florida
Workers: 71
Case Status: CERTIFIED
Certification Duration: 2/16/2009 to 11/15/2009 (9 mo.)
Pay Rate: $8.00/Hourly
Prevailing Wage: $7.12/Hourly
Employer Agent/Attorney: PRACTICAL EMPLOYEE SOLUTIONS, VERONICA T. STRICKLA
CLEANER, HOUSEKEEPING
Employer Info: SANDESTIN RESORT AND CLUB INC. DBA SANDESTIN GOLF, DESTIN, Florida
Actual Work State: Florida
Workers: 37
Case Status: CERTIFIED
Certification Duration: 2/16/2009 to 11/15/2009 (9 mo.)
Pay Rate: $8.00/Hourly
Prevailing Wage: $7.22/Hourly
Employer Agent/Attorney: PRACTICAL EMPLOYEE SOLUTION, VERONICA STRICKLAND
CLEANER, HOUSEKEEPING
Employer Info: SBM SERVICES LLC, DESTIN, Florida
Actual Work State: Florida
Workers: 75
Case Status: CERTIFIED
Certification Duration: 3/1/2009 to 10/31/2009 (7 mo.)
Pay Rate: $7.22/Hourly
Prevailing Wage: $7.22/Hourly
Employer Agent/Attorney: MARTINEZ & SORDO, P.A.
Supporters say temporary guest workers reduce illegal immigration, critics say they take jobs from Americans.
Over the past decade, federal data shows companies have requested H-2B visas for more than 1.3 million jobs ? from landscape workers to hotel housekeepers, stable hands to soccer coaches.
What kinds of businesses in our area are applying for foreign guest workers? What kind of jobs are they unable to fill with domestic workers? What do these jobs pay?
Below is a source to find out the H-2B application data obtained from two of these agencies: the Foreign Labor Certification Data Center in the Dept. of Labor (FY2000-2009) and U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Dept. of Homeland Security (FY 2006- June 2010).
H2-B Temporary Guest Workers: Search Labor Certification Applications
It is interesting how many foreign guest workers are being hired when we have such a high unemployment.
Many of the workers will be difficult to trace to a specific employers because they hire them from a front company that contracts them out.
In addition although these are suppose to be "temporary workers" there are ways that companies can keep the same workers indefinitely by using different front companies to do the hiring.
Below is only a partial list of local businesses hiring foreign workers:
LABORER, LANDSCAPE
Employer InfoROFESSIONAL OUTDOOR SERVICES, SANTA ROSA BEACH, Florida
Actual Work State:Florida
Workers:25
Case Status:CERTIFIED
Certification Duration:2/17/2009 to 12/15/2009 (10 mo.)
Pay Rate:$8.03/Hourly
Prevailing Wage:$8.03/Hourly
Employer Agent/Attorney:LAURA CHRISTIANSEN/LABOR CONSULTANTS INTERNATIONAL
AMUSEMENT PARK WORKER
Employer Info: RECREATION INVESTMENTS OF FLORIDA, INC. DBA THE TR, DESTIN, Florida
Actual Work State: Florida
Workers: 40
Case Status: CERTIFIED
Certification Duration: 2/15/2009 to 11/30/2009 (9 mo.)
Pay Rate: $7.50/Hourly
Prevailing Wage: $6.98/Hourly
Employer Agent/Attorney: PRACTICAL EMPLOYEE SOLUTIONS, VERONICA T STRICKLAN
BEACH LIFEGUARD
Employer Info: DESTIN FIRE CONTROL DISTRICT, DESTIN, Florida
Actual Work State: Florida
Workers: 3
Case Status: CERTIFIED
Certification Duration: 2/15/2008 to 10/31/2009 (20 mo.)
Pay Rate: $14.17/Hourly
Prevailing Wage: $10.48/Hourly
Employer Agent/Attorney: KENDRA S. KEMBEL, ESQ
CLEANER, HOUSEKEEPING
Employer Info: CLEAN UP CLEANING SERVICES, LLC, DESTIN, Florida
Actual Work State: Florida
Workers: 20
Case Status: CERTIFIED
Certification Duration: 2/15/2009 to 11/30/2009 (9 mo.)
Pay Rate: $7.50/Hourly
Prevailing Wage: $7.22/Hourly
Employer Agent/Attorney: DIANA D CARLI, ESQ.
CLEANER, HOUSEKEEPING
Employer Info: EMERALD COAST RESORTS, LLC, DESTIN, Florida
Actual Work State: Florida
Workers: 35
Case Status: CERTIFIED
Certification Duration: 10/1/2009 to 5/30/2010 (7 mo.)
Pay Rate: $7.50/Hourly
Prevailing Wage: $7.25/Hourly
Employer Agent/Attorney: KERRYANNE SCHULTZ
CLEANER, HOUSEKEEPING
Employer Info: FRONT TO BACK CLEANING SERVICES, DESTIN, Florida
Actual Work State: Florida
Workers: 39
Case Status: CERTIFIED
Certification Duration: 9/15/2009 to 7/15/2010 (10 mo.)
Pay Rate: $7.50/Hourly
Prevailing Wage: $7.50/Hourly
Employer Agent/Attorney: N/A
CLEANER, HOUSEKEEPING
Employer Info: SANDESTIN RESORT AND CLUB INC. DBA SANDESTIN GOLF, DESTIN, Florida
Actual Work State: Florida
Workers: 71
Case Status: CERTIFIED
Certification Duration: 2/16/2009 to 11/15/2009 (9 mo.)
Pay Rate: $8.00/Hourly
Prevailing Wage: $7.12/Hourly
Employer Agent/Attorney: PRACTICAL EMPLOYEE SOLUTIONS, VERONICA T. STRICKLA
CLEANER, HOUSEKEEPING
Employer Info: SANDESTIN RESORT AND CLUB INC. DBA SANDESTIN GOLF, DESTIN, Florida
Actual Work State: Florida
Workers: 37
Case Status: CERTIFIED
Certification Duration: 2/16/2009 to 11/15/2009 (9 mo.)
Pay Rate: $8.00/Hourly
Prevailing Wage: $7.22/Hourly
Employer Agent/Attorney: PRACTICAL EMPLOYEE SOLUTION, VERONICA STRICKLAND
CLEANER, HOUSEKEEPING
Employer Info: SBM SERVICES LLC, DESTIN, Florida
Actual Work State: Florida
Workers: 75
Case Status: CERTIFIED
Certification Duration: 3/1/2009 to 10/31/2009 (7 mo.)
Pay Rate: $7.22/Hourly
Prevailing Wage: $7.22/Hourly
Employer Agent/Attorney: MARTINEZ & SORDO, P.A.