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2020 was a year of unprecedented challenges, but for Alpha Global Biz, it was also a year of unprecedented achievements. Despite the closure of U.S. Embassies and Consulates due to the pandemic, visa retrogression which delayed the issuance of work permits and Green Cards for most of the year, and an immigration process that changed daily, Alpha Global was still able to accomplish a great deal within this past year. In 2020, 319 of our clients were granted approval of their I-140s, 107 Green Cards were granted to main applicants (and hundreds of approvals for their dependents), 620 Labor Certifications were approved, and 188 of our clients were hired by an employer. These statistics reflect our perseverance and dedication to our work in the face of whatever challenges we faced. We also played an integral role in delaying harmful immigration proposals, such as the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act. In the past four years, we have dealt with the Muslim Ban, proposed student visa restrictions, limits on postgraduate work opportunities, the increase in visa denials and processing times and more than 400 immigration changes that the Trump Administration enacted. Yet through it all, Alpha Global has been the leading consulting company in EB-3 unskilled positions. This year alone, we added four new employees (Mariam, Holly, Isaiah, and Huma) to Alpha Global as we continue to grow, improve, and adapt. In this New Year, we are more confident than ever that we will continue to assist our clients navigate an ever-changing immigration landscape. We have hope for improved immigration opportunities for both our clients and our partner employers with the incoming Biden Administration and we hope, above all, that the pandemic will end. Whatever happens though, Alpha Global will be here for our clients and for our employers every step of the way. Regards, Britt Vergnolle, CEO

My husband and I did the EB3 visa process through consular processing. We had been trying to move to the US legally for several years. When we began researching on US immigration, we didn’t know anything about the EB3 visa. The only way we found to immigrate was through E2 visa. So we started saving money and made a lot of sacrifices. When we felt we had enough saved to start the process, we made the mistake to ask for a B1/B2 tourist visa prior to the E2 visa. The country where we were, allowed us to travel to the US without a visa. But we thought it would be a good idea to ask for a tourist visa so we could stay there longer and start investing in our future business. We would have then gone back to our country to request for an E2 visa. It was a huge mistake because our request was denied. At 1st we thought it’s because we weren’t prepared enough, didn’t have the correct documents etc… So we went for another interview and our 2nd request was denied as well. What we didn’t realize at that time is that, our visa denial meant we could not travel to the US at all, even for vacation! We were devasted, America was the only country where we wanted to live and spend the rest of our lives. Not only could we not move there, but we couldn’t even travel there! As I was losing hope, one day I was just watching TV, switching channels and a documentary caught my attention. What I saw was a gamechanger for us! It was about South Koreans, moving to the USA via an unskilled work visa. They were hired through employers who had labor shortages especially in the farming industry and most important of all, this visa allowed them to obtain a Green Card, the holy grail for us! I was so thrilled that day, if South Koreans can obtain this visa, why couldn’t we? Then started a long journey for us. A quest to find someone who could help us apply for this visa. We searched on the internet, and at that time, we couldn’t find Alpha Global Biz on Google. At 1st we couldn’t even find any agency based in America! We had to translate Korean websites via Google translate to understand what these agencies were talking about. We even almost signed up with a Korean agency, but we didn’t move forward because it was very expensive. And we were also afraid that it would look strange to the visa officer that we went through a Korean agency… We also saw agencies, that we were very skeptical about, agencies that were guaranteeing green cards 100%. Finally, we found an agency based in America. At 1st they seemed okay, so we started the 1st step of the EB3 process with them. They had offered me a spot in a chicken processing factory. As we moved forward in the process. We noticed that something was not right. They were giving us contradictory information, nobody seemed to be dedicated to our case, and it felt like they were not even sure about what they were doing! It was scary given the bad experience we already had with immigration and we were right! Our LC got denied, and they couldn’t even give us the reason as to why it was denied. So we decided to start searching, again! Even if we lost money, we couldn’t go on with them after what happened. There must be someone out there, who was reliable and cared about their clients ! At that point, my husband had the idea to look at the issue from a different angle. Instead of looking for agencies, why not ask employers directly who they work with? At that time, we could still check on the Department of Labor’s website to see which employer is filing for which type of visa. My husband made a list of employers that were filing for EB3 visas, and I started calling them to find out if they were hiring foreign nationals. I got a lot of negative responses, until that one call that changed everything. One employer finally said ‘yes we do hire foreigners’. And that nice lady gave me Britt’s (Alpha Global Biz CEO & Founder) number. I called Britt straight away and heard her friendly voice for the 1st time. From that day I knew I was in good hands and that our struggle was almost over. We noticed that Alpha Global was different from other agencies we had encountered until now. They had client testimonials, and we already knew they were legitimate as we had called one of the sponsors.But most important of all, they knew what they were doing, and were doing it right! We binge watched all of Mitchell’s (Alpha Global Biz Sales Director) Facebook videos. The more we watched, the more we realized how consistent and clear they were! Finally we had found what we were looking for all these years. The reason why I decided to give my testimonial is because I want to share my story, and let Alpha Global clients know how lucky you are to have found Alpha Global! We found them the hard way, and we saw everything. This is coming from someone who did a lot of research and encountered so many different agencies. Nothing compares to Alpha Global. The team is awesome, and the jobs are awesome too! I’m so glad to have worked in a janitorial company rather than a chicken processing plant! No matter how much I thank the Alpha Global team, especially Britt, John, Chris and Mitchell, it would never be enough. Alpha Global changed our lives forever and made our dream come true ! Very few people live their dream, and I’m living it thanks to Alpha Global. We’ve been living in the US for a year now and happier than ever. Proud American residents,

GREENVILLE, S.C. — November 04, 2021 — Alpha Global Biz, a tech-enabled, turnkey provider of employment-based immigration services to foreign nationals and employers whose solutions help resolve labor shortages across the United States, today announced that New York-based Astara Capital Partners, LLC, a middle-market private equity firm, has acquired a majority stake in the company. Founded in 2011 by CEO Britt Vergnolle, Alpha Global Biz helps source employment for foreign nationals via the federal government’s EB-3 green card program. Alpha Global helps place these employees in a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, restaurant franchise groups, cleaning and maintenance companies, warehousing, distribution centers and food preparation. “Alpha Global Biz began at my kitchen table 10 years ago, and since then we have helped 5,100 foreign nationals with the process of securing their green cards via EB-3 employment visa and over 84 employers fill much-needed positions,” noted Vergnolle. “To secure this kind of investment in the future of our company from a trusted, proven partner like Astara is exciting and incredibly rewarding for our whole Alpha Global family. We look forward to the rapid expansion of our business so we can help more foreign nationals and U.S. employers reach their goals in a challenging immigration and labor environment.” Added Vergnolle: “This major investment underscores the importance of EB-3 workers for major employers across the country as we face unprecedented labor shortages. Our expansion will allow us to bring the good news about this type of hiring to the industries and companies who need it the most.” EB-3 Unskilled Visa is a visa preference category for U.S. employment-based permanent residency that requires a sponsoring employer. It is intended for US businesses who are unable to find US workers for unskilled positions. The program was established by Congress in 1990 to help address persistent labor shortages and to offer prospective foreign immigrants a pathway to legally work in the U.S. “We chose to partner with Alpha Global due to its outstanding leadership, passionate and diverse culture, and strong commitment to serving its customers,” said Lindsey Tannenbaum who helped lead the investment for Astara. “Alpha Global’s model not only helps employers solve their staffing challenges but also helps them meet their own diversity goals. Alpha Global’s tech-enabled labor immigration services are helping address the chronic labor and supply chain shortages so many companies are experiencing in the wake of the pandemic, and we are very excited to introduce them to the companies in our network.” As the company continues to hire new employees across all levels of the organization, Alpha Global will expand its physical footprint next month as it grows from 2,400 square feet to 8,000 across two floors in the historic Harper Brothers building in downtown Greenville. The company will also leverage Astara’s investment to grow its geographical footprint beyond the 28 states in which it currently provides its services to US employers and into new industries and companies for which EB-3 visa workers are desperately needed. The company’s technology that streamline’s all aspects of their services for both foreign nationals and employers will continue to provide real-time transparency for all parties as cases move through the U.S. immigration system and workers prepare to onboard with Alpha Global’s corporate clients. About Alpha Global Biz Headquartered in Greenville, SC, Alpha Global is the largest independent company in the U.S. that specializes in closing the country’s chronic and growing, unskilled labor gap utilizing the EB-3 visa program. They are uniquely positioned to assist U.S. companies and foreign nationals navigate the complex U.S. immigration system. More information can be found at www.Alpha Globalsolutions.com About Astara Capital Partners Astara Capital Partners is an integrated team of investors and operators investing in the middle market. The firm brings capital, strategic, and operational resources to its investments to build sustainable value and position them for long-term success. Astara focuses on a variety of sectors where it has deep experience, including packaging and converting, food, building products, forest products, and industrial manufacturing, distribution, and services. More information about Astara can be found at www.astaracapital.com.

This former client shares their story and immigration process with us. Read about their experience below: “My family and I are from Brazil, and we are Alpha Global clients. I’m here to share a bit of our story and hopefully encourage others who have a dream to fight for it. But first, let me go back in time a little. From an early age, I always wanted to live in another country because, as a ballet student, it’s natural to dream of being part of a prestigious school or international company. I dedicated myself to classes, studied English, and did everything to reach my goal as soon as possible. Despite my dedication, things didn’t go as planned. Time passed, and neither the scholarship nor a position materialized, which was demotivating. Eventually, I stopped believing in my dream. I continued dancing professionally for a few years, but surviving as an artist in my country wasn’t easy. So, I graduated, got married, had kids, and started a company with my husband. Ballet became more of a hobby. After some vacation trips, my husband and I rekindled our old dream and thought it would be a great experience for the whole family to live abroad. There were many nights of research to find the best way to do it because being illegal in any country was not an option! I explored most visa options, and after feeling like I didn’t qualify for any, we applied for a student visa. The plan was to study, experience the culture, and return when necessary. We arrived in America in 2018, and the feeling of belonging was overwhelming! But I had no idea how to stay. That’s when I discovered Alpha Global, and we decided to apply for a position right in Florida where we were already staying. Initially, the amount of information was scarce, and the fear was immense. However, as the process began and we met other applicants, we started hearing several success stories, and that boosted our confidence! Unfortunately, our Labor Certification (LC) was audited, and the process stalled for many months. It was a tough phase, and we started to doubt whether we’d make it. More than a year later, with no response, I decided to try a plan B and apply for another type of visa based on my ballet career. The Alpha Global team provided incredible support, from financial help with payment plans to emotional support, always answering our questions. This encouragement was essential for us to keep going! I applied for another position, and surprisingly, this time, the process moved extremely quickly. By December 2020, I had approvals for both processes! It was an emotional moment because, for someone who once had no idea how to stay, having the choice of which path to take was a huge victory! I couldn’t believe it for days, especially with the ballet process, which had little value in my country but was recognized in the U.S. as an area of national importance! After much thought and analysis, we decided to proceed with the EB-3, considering the support we would receive from Alpha Global, the lawyers, and the sponsor in this new beginning. It was the best decision we made! Our green card arrived in the mail in 4 months without even needing an interview! Before starting to work, I had mistakenly thought that because it was a position without qualifications, I would feel inferior. But I found a company that was grateful for our work, with kind managers and colleagues willing to help us whenever possible. People treated each other with respect, regardless of job title or position. Many times, I felt more valued in this work than in others with higher status in Brazil! Today, I couldn’t be happier or more grateful for everything and everyone who contributed to making my dream and that of my family come true. My kids are receiving the education I always dreamed of, in a safe place with a bright future. My husband has his company and is working in his field. As for me, I’m in the second act of my life! I went back to taking regular ballet classes, participated in auditions, and became part of a professional company. I divide my time between work, my kids, and my classes. I’ve also been invited by other companies to participate in their shows, with a full season of performances on beautiful stages I never thought I’d be able to dance on! Thank you to the entire Alpha Global team and especially those who helped me closely—Jorge, Mitchell, Britt, Chris, Isaiah, John, and Carolina! And my advice for those who have the dream of immigrating is this: Ask for guidance, study, research, plan, believe, and come live your best version in this country of opportunities!” ‍

Alpha Global is a unique company that provides legal expertise, immigrant perspective, and an extensive network to their clients.  Alpha Global combines three major assets that make them the gold standard as specialists in the EB3 visa: 1. Expert Experience: The people who make up Alpha Global Biz represent hundreds of thousands of hours working in immigration law. This includes multiple attorneys, former consular officers, the former head of USCIS, and people who have worked for some of the largest immigration law firms in the nation. Not only does this represent personal skill, but a vast network and connections to high-ranking government officials. All of these experienced people have come together to focus their attention, expertise, and networks specifically on the EB3 visa. 2. Client Voices Not only do we boast multiple experts in immigration law, but we have several former clients working at Alpha Global who went through the EB3 unskilled process with Alpha Global. These individuals serve in multiple Alpha Global departments including accounting, global mobility, client services, and program success to provide a voice to the client experience across the whole company. 3. Proven Track Record Not only does Alpha Global have special knowledge from both the legal and immigrant perspective, but Alpha Global has a track record of success stretching back to its founding. In 2022 alone Alpha Global will have filed around 3,000 applications for Labor Certification. Alpha Global has succeeded in helping thousands acquire green cards from over 100 countries. Between the expertise in American Immigration Law, our network of current employees that were former clients informing company policy, and our track record of success, Alpha Global Biz is uniquely positioned to be called specialists and experts on the EB3 visa.  

Alpha Global Biz does not function exclusively as an employment agency nor an immigration agency, but it does, however, possess qualities from both types of organizations. Alpha Global sits at the unique intersection of workforce development and immigration consultancy, supplying American business owners with an untapped labor pool of eligible workers, and providing visa processing guidance to visa applicants in pursuit of EB3 visas. Regarding staffing assistance, Alpha Global works with staffing agencies, human resources departments, and business leaders to identify areas in critical need of unskilled laborers, across different industries all over the nation. We provide our employer-sponsors with a job pool of qualified applicants interested in available job openings. We do not function in the role of employment recruiters matching clients to specific openings based on skills/talents/interests; applicants select their own opportunities that they universally qualify for under the EB3 visa category. In terms of immigration, we provide guidance and direction on filings, processing, and client intervention options when necessary. Alpha Global provides employer-sponsors with guidance on filings and requirements needed to sponsor foreign workers. While our goal is for the EB3 category to be utilized at maximum effectiveness, we balance that interest with careful consideration of who we help as clients and as potential sponsors. Alpha Global strategically selects applicants that are a good fit for the EB3 pathway and are likely to be successful at meeting the requirements and completing the filings, deadlines, and financial qualifications to receive a green card.  We do not supply every business with employees. To be selected as an eligible sponsor, Alpha Global ensures that the business has a verified labor shortage & and that the experienced staffing shortages are a result of economic conditions, not internal management disfunction. Alpha Global operates within its own sector. We provide employment solutions & immigration solutions in ways not easily or successfully replicated by others. We leverage our expertise, experiences, and networks – like our sister company Argo Visa, to provide labor solutions to chronic labor shortages for employers across the nation. Alpha Global advocates for businesses and immigrations solutions at local, state, and federal levels to mitigate delays and preventable issues wherever possible. While many immigration and employment agencies have a mundane, repetitive process to their selection and execution of services, we work around the clock to lead the industry in our services, performance, and innovation.