Step 1: PERM Labor Certification
PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) is required for the EB2 and EB3 employment-based green card categories and includes prevailing wage determination, recruitment, and ETA From 9089.
Prevailing Wage Determination
The first step is to obtain a prevailing wage determination from the DOL. The Prevailing Wage Determination (PWD) request provides details to the DOL regarding the job duties, job requirements, and job location. Once approved by DOL, the employer will use it as the base salary requirement for the job.
Recruitment
In this phase, the employer goes through a series of mandatory recruitment processes to ensure that no qualified and willing American workers are available to fill the open position. There are three basic recruitment requirements: 2 Sunday newspaper job postings, a job posting with the state’s workforce agency, and three other advertisements.
ETA Form 9089
Once the prevailing wage has been provided and the recruitment steps are complete, the employer must file ETA Form 9089, Application for Employment Certification, with the DOL. ETA Form 9089 may be filed electronically or by mail.
Step 2: Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker
Upon approval of ETA Form 9089, the petitioning employer must file Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker. Form I-140 establishes that the alien is eligible for an immigrant visa based on employment and that the U.S. employer has the funds and assets necessary to pay the worker the wage advertised in the PERM phase. If the employee’s priority date is current, Form I-140 can be filed simultaneously with the I-485 Application to Adjust Status. This is known as ‘concurrent’ filing.
Step 3: Form I-485, Adjustment of Status
Adjustment of Status is the process of applying for permanent residency in the US and the final stage of the H1B to green card process. To file for Adjustment of Status, the employee must file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. During this phase, the employee may also apply for the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advance Parole.
Once USCIS processes and approves Form I-485, the employee will receive a stamp in his or her passport and later receive the physical green card, having successfully changed his status from H1B to green card holder.
For more information about applying for a Green Card from H1B visa, visit Employment-Based Green Card.
