US Plans Major Changes to Employment-Based Green Card Certification Process

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is preparing to introduce sweeping changes to the employment-based green card certification process, marking the first major overhaul of the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) system since it was established in 2004.

The proposed reforms are intended to modernize the labor certification process and align it with today’s labor market and recruitment practices. Federal officials say the current system has remained largely unchanged for more than two decades despite significant changes in the U.S. workforce and hiring methods.

The PERM program is a key requirement for most employment-based green card applications. Before sponsoring a foreign worker for permanent residency, employers must demonstrate that no qualified and available U.S. workers are able to fill the position through a required recruitment process.

According to the Department of Labor’s regulatory agenda, the planned changes will update recruitment and labor market testing requirements while improving the efficiency of the certification process. The department has not yet released the full details of the proposed rule.

The initiative is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to reform employment-based immigration policies. The proposed changes are expected to affect thousands of U.S. employers and skilled foreign professionals seeking permanent residency through employer sponsorship.

The Department of Labor is expected to publish a proposed rule for public comment before the new regulations are finalized. Immigration attorneys and employers are closely watching the proposal, as it could lead to changes in recruitment procedures, compliance requirements, and processing timelines for employment-based green card applications.