PERM RESOURCES

Most persons who obtain permanent residence in the United States through employment must undergo the PERM (labor certification) process. Employers must submit PERM applications to the U.S. Department of Labor demonstrating that they have attempted to recruit U.S. workers for the job in question, but have been unsuccessful.

The first step in the labor certification process is for the employer to electronically request a prevailing wage determination (PWD) from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The employer provides the DOL with job duties, requirements and location.

Then, the employer must conduct good faith recruitment to see if there are any qualified U.S. workers for the PERM job. He must advertise the job in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of intended employment. The employer must also advertise the job with the state workforce agency and post a notice of the job opportunity at the work site.

Finally, if no qualified U.S. workers apply for the job, the employer must prepare and submit a PERM application, form ETA-9089, electronically to the DOL. Generally, the DOL takes several months to adjudicate the PERM application.

If and when the application is approved, the employer has 180 days to submit a form I-140 visa petition to the USCIS.

Over the past 30 years, our US immigration law firm has been successful in obtaining the approval of thousands of PERM, or Department of Labor labor certification, applications for a wide-variety of professional, skilled and unskilled workers.

We hope the information contained on this page helps you to better understand the PERM process.

“I must acknowledge the Law Offices of Carl Shusterman for their expert, diligent and responsive attention to my successful petition for permanent residency…I am particularly grateful for the assistance and outstanding customer service of Judy Lu, Sr. Paralegal, who guided us through the process from H1-B to PERM to adjustment of status for permanent residency…” (More client reviews…)