What is PERM and Why Does it Drive Everyone Crazy?

This post provides an overview of PERM labor certification as of January 2024. Hopefully there will be value here to someone new to PERM as well as old-timers with years of experience navigating PERM.

If a U.S. employer seeks to sponsor someone for U.S. permanent resident (green card) status, then the employer must generally go through the PERM labor certification process.

PERM is stage 1 of a 3-stage process of traditional employment-based immigration.

The PERM process can be done for a foreign national candidate who currently works at the employer or someone who does not yet work for the employer.

PERM itself (stage 1) can, in theory, be done for anyone. But there are lots of details to consider. And the process is SLOW! PERM itself is slow and it is only stage 1 of the 3-stage process.

The PERM process is based on regulations put forth by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). You can read the official guidance on PERM at the DOL website here.

This post will provide a brief history of PERM (at a very high level), then discuss the different steps to complete the PERM process as of January 2024, including commentary on why PERM is so currently so slow and so frustrating.