Labor Certification (PERM)

PERM, which stands for Program Electronic Review Management, is the process of obtaining Labor Certification and is the first step for foreign nationals to obtain an Employment Green Card.

U.S. employers must obtain a Department of Labor certification in order to employ individuals outside of the U.S. This certification is based on job skills or non-immigrant temporary workers coming to perform services for which qualified authorized workers are unavailable in the United States.

The Secretary of Labor issues labor certifications, which contain attestations by U.S. employers of the numbers of U.S. workers available to undertake the employment sought by an applicant and also the effect of the alien’s employment on the wages and working conditions of U.S. workers similarly employed.

Determination of Labor availability in the United States is made at the time of a visa application and at the location where the applicant wishes to work.