Ashona's Global Talent Journey: Navigating H2B and EB3 Visas in an Unpredictable Landscape
4th November 2025
Date
Interviewee
Ashona Fyffe
Immigration wasn't just a career choice for Ashona. It was woven into the fabric of her childhood, embedded in every conversation at the park, every interaction in her vibrant Flatbush, Brooklyn neighborhood, and every family story about the journey from Jamaica to America.
"Immigration is basically a part of me," Ashona reflects. Growing up as a first-generation American in one of New York City's most diverse neighborhoods, she watched the dreams of immigrants unfold in real time. "Flatbush is the haven for West Indians, everyone from different Caribbean islands. You could never grow up in New York City and not be exposed to immigration."
From Accounting Student to Immigration Advocate
While studying accounting at Hunter College, Ashona took a position as a continuing legal education coordinator at a state bar association. The job involved coordinating CLE courses for attorneys to fulfill their CLE requirements. One day, a course on immigration law caught her attention.
"I was just so intrigued," she recalls. That spark of interest would eventually reshape her entire career trajectory.
The path from intrigue to action began with observation. In Brooklyn's parks, Ashona met West Indian baby nurses and nannies who had been sponsored by their employers to come to the United States. Their stories resonated deeply. "A lot of people from Jamaica were looking for job opportunities that could help them come to America," she explains.
Building a Business From Scratch: The Power of Self-Education
What started as helping a friend with a resume evolved into something much larger. Ashona discovered a database on flag.dol.gov where she could access job orders and contact information for HR managers and directors. She began helping Jamaican job seekers craft competitive resumes and coached them through interviews for positions across the United States, from Martha's Vineyard to Myrtle Beach, from Florida to Michigan.
When employers started asking these successful candidates how they had found them, the referrals began flowing back to Ashona. Soon, companies were reaching out directly, asking her to handle not just recruitment but also the legal document preparation for H2B visas.
"I had no idea how to do it, but I learned it on my own," Ashona says with quiet confidence. That self-directed learning became the foundation of her global workforce solutions company, which now handles between 400 and 1,000 visa applications annually.
The Harsh Reality: Inconsistency and Backlogs
Ask Ashona about the biggest challenges in immigration work, and her frustration with system inconsistency becomes immediately apparent. She describes submitting identical H2B applications for five landscaping companies using the same template and documentation, only to receive a notice of deficiency for one but not the others.
"There's really no consistency," she emphasizes. "You can submit everything correctly and still get a notice of deficiency. Sometimes you're waiting a week or two just to hear back after submitting your corrections. And other times you get a response right away."
The unpredictability extends beyond processing times. "It feels like a gamble. You never know how it’s going to turn out. We’re constantly racing against time and in the end, it's a lottery."
For H2B visas, that lottery is literal. With only 33,000 visas available for summer seasons but over 100,000 requests, employers and consultants must navigate intense competition with no guarantees.
The EB3 backlog presents different challenges. Processing times vary dramatically by country of origin. Ashona has seen applicants from the Philippines complete the process in 18 to 24 months, while Jamaica averaged 15 to 18 months after the labor certification stage. India and China, however, face backlogs extending five years or more.
Recent Policy Changes and Consulate Accountability
Within the past several months, Ashona has noticed troubling trends at U.S. consulates overseas. "I noticed that there was a rise in visa denials and a troubling lack of accountability at several U.S. consulates overseas," she observes. "Some visa applications were handled in ways that, frankly, didn’t meet professional standards."
For companies dependent on these workers to operate successfully, the lack of recourse creates impossible situations. "There's really nothing left for them to do," Ashona says, her concern for her clients evident.
When asked what single change would improve the system, she points to the labor certification process. "I think that there needs to be a system in place, a better system where things can be automated, things can move at a schedule, more predictability," she explains. "There are a lot of companies that are dependent on this process."
Embracing AI as a Solution
Unlike many in the legal field who approach artificial intelligence with caution, Ashona's enthusiasm is unequivocal. "AI is one of the most amazing advancements to happen in our time. I absolutely love it," she declares.
Her perspective comes from practical experience. "With AI, you can identify and respond to notices of deficiency a lot quicker. It just makes everything more efficient and helps automate repetitive tasks." She views AI as essential for handling high-volume immigration processing with precision and consistency.
However, Ashona is quick to add an important caveat. "You always have to fact-check. I don't think it's something that you should depend on solely. I think it's something that you should use as an assistant."
She describes AI as a business mirror, helping professionals identify and refine their thought processes. "You're feeding information into the system, and it reflects your own patterns back to you. It shows you what you’ve been doing all along."
Building International Partnerships
Ashona's work extends across multiple countries. She has established partnerships with recruitment agencies in Jamaica, Canada, Central America, Philippines, Vietnam, China, and Brazil. These relationships allow her to maintain consistent candidate pipelines while ensuring quality standards.
"I establish relationships, long-term relationships with different agencies," she explains. "We have guidelines on what we look for in candidates. We interview them and ensure that they’re great matches for our clients."
The recent inclusion of China in the H2B program opened new opportunities, expanding her recruiting reach while also requiring adaptation to new markets and cultural contexts.
Advice for Aspiring Immigration Professionals
For those considering entering the immigration field, Ashona's primary message is clear: preparation is everything.
"The global workforce and employment based visa industry, particularly the H2B and EB3 programs, aren’t something you simply jump into. They require research, strategy, and strong connections. Also, it’s important to know who your competitors are,” she advises. Rather than viewing competitors as threats, she sees them as learning opportunities.
Staying current is non-negotiable. "You have to be updated on the policies, rules, and regulations," she stresses. "Follow attorneys, go on YouTube channels, TikTok, every single source there is. The rules and policies, you have to stay up to date."
She recommends aspiring professionals study USCIS policy manuals, explore the flag.dol.gov database to understand how companies file their forms, and examine prevailing wages and job orders to learn best practices.
Most importantly, she wants newcomers to understand the complexity. "This is not something that's easy. There are a lot of moving parts in the process. If I knew then what I know now, I would have told myself to go slower and learn each step carefully.
Guidance for Immigrants Navigating the System
Ashona's advice for immigrants themselves centers on realistic expectations and thorough preparation.
"It's not guaranteed and it takes a lot of patience," she tells applicants. "Make sure they're doing their part, have their documents organized, and are prepared to present themselves in the best possible way at the U.S. embassies."
Having realistic expectations helps immigrants mentally prepare for the lengthy timelines and potential setbacks inherent in the process.
A Message of Hope in Uncertain Times
Despite the challenges, inconsistencies, and recent policy turbulence, Ashona remains committed to the work and the people it serves.
"I know that right now, the immigration process feels uncertain and exhausting. It can be discouraging, but we can't give up this fight," she says with conviction. "We have to keep pushing forward, stay proactive, and stay ahead of changes. We’ve come too far to stop now."
Her message carries the weight of personal understanding. As someone whose family's immigration journey shaped her worldview, Ashona recognizes what's at stake for the people she serves.
"Even when it feels hopeless, there’s still hope."
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