What Every Business Owner Should Know About the PERM and Green Card Sponsorship Process
In today’s competitive labor market, finding and keeping reliable workers is more challenging than ever. For many U.S. employers, especially in industries like construction, manufacturing, logistics, and staffing, sponsoring foreign workers for permanent residency (green cards) through the PERM labor certification process has become a critical workforce solution.
At Unlimited Labor Solutions (ULS), we help businesses like yours navigate the complex immigration process with ease. Here’s what you need to know about the PERM and green card sponsorship process—and how it can benefit your business long-term.
What Is the PERM Labor Certification?
PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) is the first step in the employment-based green card process. It’s a system managed by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that ensures:
There are no qualified U.S. workers available for the position you want to fill.
Hiring a foreign worker will not negatively impact U.S. wages or working conditions.
Once your PERM application is certified, you can move forward with filing an immigrant petition (I-140) and eventually help your employee apply for a green card.
Why Should Employers Care About PERM?
With ongoing labor shortages and high turnover in many industries, the PERM process gives employers a way to:
- Retain reliable, long-term employees
- Stabilize workforce planning
- Fill hard-to-staff roles
- Invest in skilled talent without constant rehiring
Unlike temporary work visas like the H-2B or H-1B, a green card offers permanent work authorization, which leads to greater employee loyalty and long-term workforce stability.
The 3 Core Steps of the PERM Process:
Understanding the process helps you avoid delays, errors, and non-compliance. Here’s a simplified breakdown:
- Prevailing Wage Determination (PWD)
The DOL sets the minimum wage you must offer for the job, based on the location and job duties. This step takes 2–4 months on average.
2. Recruitment and Job Advertising
You must prove you made a genuine effort to hire a U.S. worker. This includes:
- Running newspaper ads
- Posting the job with the state workforce agency
- Conducting internal postings
3. Filing the ETA Form 9089 (PERM Application)
Once recruitment is complete and no qualified U.S. worker is hired, you can file ETA Form 9089 with the Department of Labor. This application confirms:
- The recruitment process was properly conducted
- The job meets all wage and eligibility requirements
- The foreign worker qualifies for the role
If approved, your business can move forward with the green card process by filing an I-140 immigrant petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even well-meaning employers can run into trouble during the PERM process. Here are a few costly errors to avoid:
- Incorrect job descriptions that are too vague or overly tailored
- Improper recruitment timelines or documentation gaps
- Not offering the prevailing wage as required
- Missing deadlines for filing after recruitment ends
Working with an experienced team like Unlimited Labor Solutions helps ensure your PERM process is compliant, timely, and positioned for approval.
How ULS Helps You Succeed:
At ULS, we specialize in helping employers across the U.S. sponsor skilled, hard-working employees for permanent residency through the PERM process. Our team offers:
- Step-by-step PERM process guidance
- Full management of job advertising and recruitment compliance
- Coordination with immigration attorneys and government agencies
- Solutions tailored to your industry and labor needs
Whether you’re a construction company struggling to retain workers or a manufacturer looking for long-term staffing stability, ULS helps you build a more dependable workforce—one green card at a time.
Ready to Get Started?
The PERM process may be complex, but with the right guidance, it can be one of the smartest decisions you make for your business. Contact Unlimited Labor Solutions today to learn how we can help you navigate sponsorship and secure the workers your company needs to grow.
