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 ICE
established Construction Workers, Inc. (CWI) in concert with the BAC
to obtain temporary work visas for Canadian craftworkers to meet
labor shortages in the U.S. Over 500,000 hours have been worked by
Canadians on U.S. projects since 1997 as a result of CWI’s efforts.
The process begins when a contractor signs a service
agreement with CWI. CWI then acts as agent for that contractor for
the work visa application process, obtaining necessary union
endorsements and ushering the applications through the complicated
procedures of both the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Bureau of
Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS).
When visas are approved, CWI helps the contractor
identify available workers and provides those selected with
authorization to work on that contractor’s projects. Visas are
employer and area specific, so the Canadian members can only work
for CWI signatory contractors within a certain area (as determined
by the DOL).
CWI's services are available to
construction industry employers who are signatory to collective
bargaining agreements with the following unions:
International
Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers
United
Association Journeyman & Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe
Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada
International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Sheet Metal
Workers' International Association
International
Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental & Reinforcing Iron
Workers
United
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
International
Union of Painters & Allied Trades
International
Association of Heat & Frost Insulators
Contractors that benefit from the program pay CWI for
all direct costs related to their application ($1500-$2000) plus a
service fee equal to 2% of the wages and fringes paid to the
Canadian workers. Delays in BCIS processing can be minimized by
using the BCIS Premium Processing Service for an additional $1000
fee to the BCIS. The total processing time to obtain H-2B
classification for the first workers for a specific project or group
of projects using premium processing is usually under 10 weeks.
For information, please contact
CWI International Services Coordinator, Belén
Pifel:
Phone:
202-457-9040
Fax:
202-457-9051
bpifel@icebac.org |
