Green Card Grader Jobs
Grader jobs with green card sponsorship follow the EB-2 or EB-3 pathway, requiring PERM labor certification before your employer files an I-140 petition with USCIS. Construction and civil engineering firms regularly sponsor foreign grading professionals for permanent residence, though per-country priority-date backlogs mean timelines vary significantly by nationality.
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Get Access To All JobsRequisition ID: 190843
Position Summary
Operate one or several types of power construction equipment to excavate, move and/or grade material.
Experience Level
Intermediate
Primary Responsibilities and Duties
- Operate a variety of vehicles and large heavy equipment while performing maintenance and repairs on roads and rights-of-way including loading, hauling and dumping on smooth to extremely rough surfaces.
- Load gravel, dirt and sand; smooth and grade roads; spread rock and gravel.
- Trench and construct ditches for installation of culverts, water pipes and sewer pipes; remove silt and debris.
- Knowledgeable of equipment in respect to checking and maintaining all fluid levels and lubrication.
- May be asked to instruct and train employees in the safe operation of construction equipment and tools and in job techniques and skills.
- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Qualifications
- May require a high school diploma or its equivalent with previous years of experience in the field or in a related area.
- Must possess working knowledge skills and abilities for position.
- Ability to understand, follow and transmit written and oral instructions and communicate effectively with management/supervision.
- Ability to use hand tools, power tools and layout tools safe and efficiently.
- Ability to pass pre-access drug and alcohol testing, fit-for-duty medical.
- Observe and comply with all safety and project rules, perform other duties as required.
Work Setting & Job Requirements
- The person in this position needs to constantly move about a construction/industrial site, so should be able to stand, walk, sit, reach, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl.
- Constantly works in a construction environment and will be exposed to changing outdoor weather conditions.
- Work irregular hours, weekends, overtime and holidays as required.
- May be required to use ladders/mechanical platforms/manlifts/scaffold to access required equipment/work areas (may exceed 200 feet), so must be able to climb and maintain balance on formwork, steel formwork, stairs, ladders and scaffolds.
- Move and work in and around confined and cluttered places, and uneven surfaces.
- Must be able to complete tasks in a noisy and dusty environment.
- May be required/able to move items weighing up to 50 pounds across construction/industrial site.
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
Requisition ID: 190843
Position Summary
Operate one or several types of power construction equipment to excavate, move and/or grade material.
Experience Level
Intermediate
Primary Responsibilities and Duties
- Operate a variety of vehicles and large heavy equipment while performing maintenance and repairs on roads and rights-of-way including loading, hauling and dumping on smooth to extremely rough surfaces.
- Load gravel, dirt and sand; smooth and grade roads; spread rock and gravel.
- Trench and construct ditches for installation of culverts, water pipes and sewer pipes; remove silt and debris.
- Knowledgeable of equipment in respect to checking and maintaining all fluid levels and lubrication.
- May be asked to instruct and train employees in the safe operation of construction equipment and tools and in job techniques and skills.
- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Qualifications
- May require a high school diploma or its equivalent with previous years of experience in the field or in a related area.
- Must possess working knowledge skills and abilities for position.
- Ability to understand, follow and transmit written and oral instructions and communicate effectively with management/supervision.
- Ability to use hand tools, power tools and layout tools safe and efficiently.
- Ability to pass pre-access drug and alcohol testing, fit-for-duty medical.
- Observe and comply with all safety and project rules, perform other duties as required.
Work Setting & Job Requirements
- The person in this position needs to constantly move about a construction/industrial site, so should be able to stand, walk, sit, reach, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl.
- Constantly works in a construction environment and will be exposed to changing outdoor weather conditions.
- Work irregular hours, weekends, overtime and holidays as required.
- May be required to use ladders/mechanical platforms/manlifts/scaffold to access required equipment/work areas (may exceed 200 feet), so must be able to climb and maintain balance on formwork, steel formwork, stairs, ladders and scaffolds.
- Move and work in and around confined and cluttered places, and uneven surfaces.
- Must be able to complete tasks in a noisy and dusty environment.
- May be required/able to move items weighing up to 50 pounds across construction/industrial site.
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Green Card Sponsorship in Grader
Match your credentials to the right EB category
Grader roles typically qualify under EB-3 skilled worker if you have two or more years of documented experience operating grading equipment. If you hold a civil engineering or construction management degree, ask your attorney whether EB-2 fits your profile before your employer files PERM.
Request a prevailing wage determination early
Your employer must obtain a prevailing wage determination from DOL before advertising the role in PERM recruitment. Use OFLC Wage Search to look up the wage level for your specific SOC code and location so you can flag any mismatch before it stalls your petition.
Find sponsors through Migrate Mate
Search Migrate Mate to identify U.S. employers with verified employment-based green card sponsorship history for construction and grading roles. Focusing on companies that have completed PERM filings before cuts months off your timeline compared to approaching untested employers.
Verify your experience documentation before recruitment begins
PERM requires your employer to demonstrate no qualified U.S. worker is available, and USCIS scrutinizes whether your foreign experience genuinely meets the stated job requirements. Gather signed letters from past employers detailing equipment types operated, project scope, and years on each role.
Understand how priority dates affect your start date
Even after PERM certification and I-140 approval, nationals of high-demand countries face per-country backlogs before an immigrant visa number becomes available. Check the DOS Visa Bulletin monthly and factor your country's current priority date into any employment timeline discussions with a sponsoring employer.
Negotiate job portability rights into your offer
Once your I-485 adjustment of status application has been pending 180 days or more, AC21 portability lets you move to a same or similar occupation without restarting the green card process. Confirm in writing that your offer letter describes duties broadly enough to preserve portability if you later change employers.
Green Card Grader: Frequently Asked Questions
Which EB category covers grader jobs for foreign workers?
Most grader positions qualify under EB-3 skilled worker, which requires at least two years of documented experience and a job offer from a U.S. employer willing to complete PERM labor certification. If you hold an advanced degree or a bachelor's degree plus five years of progressive experience in a related field, your employer may also evaluate an EB-2 petition. The right category depends on the job requirements your employer defines in the PERM application.
How does green card sponsorship for grader jobs differ from H-1B sponsorship?
Green card sponsorship leads to lawful permanent residence, not a temporary status. For grader roles, it follows a multi-step process: PERM labor certification with DOL, then an I-140 immigrant petition with USCIS, then adjustment of status or consular processing. There is no lottery, but per-country numerical limits can create priority-date backlogs for nationals of high-demand countries. H-1B visa is a temporary status with an annual lottery and a cap; a green card is permanent with no lottery but potentially longer wait times.
How can I find employers willing to sponsor a green card for a grader role?
Search Migrate Mate to identify U.S. employers with a verified history of employment-based green card sponsorship in construction and grading occupations. Targeting companies that have already completed PERM filings in your occupation category significantly increases the likelihood they understand the process and are willing to sponsor again. Avoid cold-applying to employers with no prior sponsorship history unless you're prepared to educate them on PERM requirements.
What does the PERM recruitment process involve for a grader position?
PERM requires your employer to test the U.S. labor market by advertising the grader position through DOL-mandated recruitment steps, including newspaper ads, job postings, and internal notices. The employer must document that no minimally qualified U.S. worker applied and was rejected. Only after completing recruitment can the employer file ETA Form 9089 with DOL. The entire process typically takes several months before the PERM application is even submitted.
Can I change employers after my green card process has started?
Yes, but the timing matters. Once your I-485 adjustment of status application has been pending for 180 days or more, AC21 portability allows you to move to a same or similar occupation without restarting the green card process. Separately, an approved I-140 petition can allow your priority date to carry over to a new employer's I-140. Changing employers before either threshold is met generally requires starting the PERM process over from the beginning.