For many professionals working in the United States, the long-term question eventually appears: Is there a stable way to transition from a temporary work visa to a green card?
One pathway that continues to play a major role in employment-based immigration is PERM labor certification. While it may not always receive as much attention as other visa categories, PERM remains one of the most established routes for foreign professionals seeking permanent residence through employer sponsorship.
And in 2026, many workers and employers are taking a fresh look at this process.
PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) is the first step in many employment-based green card petitions, particularly those filed under the EB-2 and EB-3 categories.
The process is managed by the U.S. Department of Labor and is designed to confirm two important points:
In practice, this means the employer conducts a structured recruitment process before moving forward with the green card petition.
Once PERM is approved, the employer can continue with the next steps of the immigrant petition and eventually the green card process.
For professionals already working in the United States on visas such as H-1B, PERM can be the bridge toward long-term stability.
It allows employers to sponsor valued employees for permanent residence while continuing their professional relationship.
In many industries—including engineering, healthcare, technology, finance, and research—companies use the PERM process to retain highly skilled professionals whose expertise is critical to their teams.
From the employee’s perspective, an approved PERM case can open the door to a green card and the long-term flexibility that comes with permanent residence.
One reason the PERM pathway has remained relevant for decades is its structure.
The process generally includes several stages:
Each step follows clearly defined rules. When the process is planned carefully, it can move forward in a predictable way.
For employers and professionals who want a long-term immigration strategy, that structure can be reassuring.
In employment-based immigration, priority dates often play an important role.
The priority date is typically established when the PERM application is filed. That date can later determine when the employee becomes eligible to move forward with the final stage of the green card process.
Because of this, many employers and foreign professionals view the PERM filing as an important milestone. Starting the process earlier can sometimes create more flexibility later in the immigration timeline.
As immigration policies continue to evolve, some of the most common questions professionals ask include:
The answers depend on the specific role, the employer’s structure, and the employee’s immigration history.
Because of these variables, many companies work closely with immigration counsel to plan the process from the beginning.
At Zhang-Louie PLLC, employment-based immigration has been a core part of the firm’s work for years.
Our firm regularly works with companies and international professionals navigating green card strategies, including PERM labor certification cases and employment-based immigrant petitions.
In many situations, the goal is not simply to file paperwork, but to help employers and employees understand the broader immigration timeline and plan accordingly.
For professionals building their careers in the United States, that long-term perspective can make a significant difference.
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