How do you start this process?

Starting with a lawyer who is conversant with immigration law is a good place to start. The proximity of a lawyer to you in an employment based case is not very relevant. Most applications are remotely processed and not handled by the local field offices of U.S.C.I.S. Nonimmigrant work cases are usually taken care of by one of the regional service centers of Immigration and permanent labor certification cases are for the most part e-filed and adjudicated by the Department of Labor in Atlanta. So pick a lawyer in whom you have some confidence regardless of the physical distance in miles between you. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee, Esq.'s (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.